Axel Witsel becomes latest player to move to China after rejecting Juventus

Axel Witsel says the decision to move to China, where he will earn a reported €18m-a-year, rather than join Juventus was 'difficult'.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who was said to be an Everton transfer target last summer, is believed to have agreed a deal with Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian, despite the player appearing to be close to joining the Italian champions from Zenit.

"It was a difficult choice because on one hand there was a great team and a top club like Juventus," Witsel told Tuttosport. "But on the other there was an offer for my family that I couldn’t turn down.

"The leadership at Juventus have always behaved like gentlemen with me and I can only be grateful to them.

"I will cheer for Juventus and I hope they can win the Champions League. Then who knows, maybe in the future our paths will finally meet."

Belgium international Witsel has been at Russian club Zenit since 2012, but his contract was due to expire at the end of the season.