By Col Robinson

Belgian international soccer star Axel Witsel has joined Chinese Super League team Tianjin Quanjian from Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian club confirmed Tuesday.

Belgian international soccer star Axel Witsel has joined Chinese Super League team Tianjin Quanjian from Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian club confirmed Tuesday.

Witsel, 27, has played for Zenit since 2012. With his contract due to expire this summer, he had been linked with a potential transfer to Italian Serie A champion Juventus.

But the midfielder opted to move to the CSL and has signed a five-year deal with Quanjian, which will see him play under Italian head coach Fabio Cannavaro and reportedly earn U.S.$20.8 million per year. The Tianjin-based club is owned by Quanjian Natural Medicine and was recently promoted from Chinese League One.

Witsel follows other international stars such as Argentina’s Carlos Tevez and Brazil’s Oscar in joining  CSL clubs during the winter transfer window, which is open until February 28.