Former Arsenal forward Gervinho has reportedly signed with Chinese side Hebei China Fortune. While not official, transfer website TransferMarket China tweeted out a picture of the Ivorian posing with the team’s jersey.
Gervinho’s likely new employers are a newly-promoted side that play in the Chinese Super League.
According to Gazzetta World, A.S. Roma will reportedly receive €15 million for the striker.
The Ivorian leaves Roma after spending parts of three campaigns with the Giallorossi. In 17 appearances with the capital club this season, Gervinho bagged seven goals while handing out two assists. In total, he completed 83.9% of his passes. What’s more, the forward also averaged 1.9 shots, 2.3 dribbles and 1.1 key passes per contest.
Gervinho’s final goal with the club came in a domestic competition against rival Lazio. With Roma already leading 1-0, the forward scored in the 62nd minute to put the game away.
Already replaced
Roma wasted no time in adding another forward, as the club announced the signing of Stephan El Shaarawy on loan from fellow Serie A side A.C. Milan.
The 28-year-old Ivorian isn’t the only big-name forward to leave the club this month as Juan Iturbe joined Premier League side Bournemouth on a loan deal.
Continuing trend
As of late, Gervinho isn’t the only big name to depart for the Chinese Super League. Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin has been widely linked with a switch to Shanghai Shenhua, while there are also rumors that Chelsea midfield ace Ramires could switch to fellow Chinese outfit Jiangsu Suning.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho and compatriot Robinho made the switch to Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao last year.
Additionally, Serie A veterans Alberto Gilardino and Alessandro Diamanti have both recently played in China. The Italians joined Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao in 2014. Gilardino moved on and has since played for Fiorentina on loan before joining Palermo on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window. Diamanti has since been loaned out to La Viola, Watford and Atalanta.
In total
For his time in the Italian capital, Gervinho appeared 84 times, scoring 23 goals and chipping in with a further 17 assists.