Pelle leaves Southampton for China

London : Italy striker Graziano Pelle has joined Chinese side Shandong Luneng from Southampton for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced on Monday.

Pelle, 30, was part of the Italy team that reached the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for Southampton following his arrival from Feyenoord in 2014.

Reports in Britain suggest the transfer fee is worth around 15 million euros (£12.7 million, $16.6 million), with Pelle joining former Newcastle United forward Papiss Cisse at the Chinese Super League side.

Shandong are coached by former Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath, who returned to management last month after an ill-fated spell with Fulham in 2014.