The Nigeria striker has left Spanish side Levante to play in the Major League Soccer in the United States
Striker
Obafemi Martins has signed for
Seattle Sounders in the United States’ Major League Soccer, cutting short his two year contract in Spain with Levante.
Sounders paid $4million (628 million naira) as exit fees to the Valencia-based club on Monday.
It's is good business for the club because Martins moved there on afree in September 2012 after a low period in his career playing at RubinKazan in Russia where he had fallen out of favour. This also affectedhis international game with Nigeria.
"Wow, finally I can now announce that I have just signed for SoundersFC. A big step to take in my career. It's a big challenge but I'mready," Martins tweeted on Monday evening.
"I look forward to this new era in my career...I also look forward tomeet my new team mates and the Sounders FC fans, my new family.
"God bless you all, I appreciate all your love, support and well wishes."
He also thanked his fans at Levante.
The striker took a pay cut in order to find more playing time bymoving to Spain where he scored seven goals in 21 Liga matches and afurther two in three appearances in the Europa League.
He has also reccently been called up to the national team for their2014 Fifa World Cup qualification match against Kenya this month afterfailing to make the cut to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations which the teamwon.
Martins, 28, is moving to the MLS under the Designated Player Rule(DPR) which allows stars from abroad to be paid higher than the approvedMLS salary cap for players.
He is expected to fly to Seattle on Tuesday.Sounders are playing in the Concacaf Champions League and will behoping that the Nigerian striker will be able to help them to asuccessful campaign
http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigeria/2013/03/11/3784666/breaking-news-obafemi-martins-signs-for-seattle-sounders[ 此帖被Gabriel在2013-03-12 11:44重新編輯 ]
