Manchester United: Marouane Fellaini thanks his former team after moving to China

Marouane Fellaini thanked Manchester United for finally joining Chinese club Shandong Luneng.

The 31-year-old made 177 appearances in all competitions for United, scoring 22 goals, after joining Everton in 2013.

Fellaini wrote on Instagram: "A huge thank you to everyone I worked with during my time at Manchester United, I made some very good friends and I wish them and the club a lot. of success for the future. "

The Belgian midfielder, who signed last summer a new deal improved until 2020, was a key figure at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho.

But he has played only once in all seven United Premier League games since the club sacked the Portuguese and named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim guard.

Fellaini, who was also replaced by Solskjaer in the FA Cup's third round FA Cup win over Reading, has been ruled out of recent matches by a calf injury.

United said in a statement posted Friday afternoon on its website: "Manchester United can confirm that Marouane Fellaini left the club for a final transfer.

"Everyone at United thanks Marouane for his service and wish him good luck in the future as he completes his transfer to Shandong Luneng Taishan FC in China."

Fellaini had posted an Instagram photo of himself at an airport on Thursday morning, with the phrase "let's go" on it.

He was the first big signing of the post-Sir Ferguson Sir United era when his former Everton director, David Moyes, had paid him £ 27.5 million in August 2013.

The divisional player then won the FA Cup in 2016 under Moyes' successor, Louis van Gaal, and the League Cup and Europa League the following season under Mourinho.

Keep up-to-date with the latest transfer news, rumors and offers throughout the January window