Beijing Guoan posted a farewell message to Cedric Bakambu on their social media account on Tuesday, with the Congolese striker becoming the latest high-profile foreign player to leave the Chinese Super League.
Bakambu, who has been linked with a January move to Barcelona, has been with the club since signing from Villarreal before the start of the 2018 CSL campaign.
He made his professional debut for Sochaux in 2010, and played 107 official games for them over five seasons, scoring 21 goals. He then moved to Bursaspor for €1.8 million, finishing as top scorer as his team came runners-up in the Turkish Cup, before signing for Villarreal a year later..
Forever grateful to the city. The run was amazing. We scored all of these goals together. We won that Cup together. Together we made it.
To the fans, to the staff, to my teammates, to my new friends, to the city. Thank you.
I will miss all of you.
Truly yours.
Cédric. pic.twitter.com/at0e7pABSQ
— Cédric Bakambu (@Bakambu17) November 30, 2021
Bakambu was named on UEFA’s squad of the season for the 2015-16 Europa League before joining Beijing in January 2018 after the club paid his 40 million euros ($45.18 million) release clause. During his time in China, he scored 58 goals in 87 games and helped Beijing win the Chinese FA Cup in 2018 before finishing the 2020 season as the league’s top scorer.
Beijing have already signed a replacement ahead of the resumption of the league later next month, with Brazilian forward Anderson Silva joining from Famalicao in Portugal.
Bakambu is one of several high-profile foreign players and coaches to leave the league amid growing financial difficulties and China’s strict pandemic quarantine and travel restrictions.
Eight-time champions Guangzhou FC saw coach Fabio Cannavaro and talismanic midfielder Paulinho depart earlier in the year while Marko Arnautovic left Shanghai Port to join Bologna in Italy.
Beijing, who are coached by former West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic, are due to return to action in the league’s championship rounds next month.
