Seydou Keita quits Barcelona

Barcelona FC midfielder Seydou Keita has quit the Catalan giants and will join Chinese club Dalian Aerbin next season.

The Mali international started under fifty percent of the games last season and is free to leave the club on a clause in his contract that says he can leave on a free if he didn’t get time in 50% of matches last season. Seydou Keita, who has spent four years at the club wearing the number 15 shirt, won a total of 14 titles, which is no mean feat.

The 32 year old, who joined Barca in 2008 under manager Pep Guardiola and won three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, two Spanish Cups, two World Club Cups, three Spanish and two European Super Cups.

Barca has said of Keita on their official website:

“Seydou Keita has announced this evening that he won’t be staying at the Club next season”.

“FC Barcelona thanks Seydou Keita for his services to the Club over the years and wish him professional and personal success in the future”.

Keita is expected to sign a two-and-half-year agreement with Chinese side Dalian Aerbin and will join quite a few African stars who have also headed out to China, with Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Seville’s Freddie Kanoute among the recent signings. Keita is expected to earn around 10 Million whilst playing for the newly promoted club.

Keita joined Barca in 2008 for a fee of 14 Million Euros from Seville and in the four years spent at Barca has scored 16 goals and made 119 appearances. He is a very valuable player and we wish him all the best in his new venture.