Beijing Guoan Football Club announced on Monday that experienced midfielder Li Lei has officially left the club after more than six years with the team.
Li, who was born in Guangzhou, joined Beijing Guoan in 2015 and played a key role in helping the club win the Chinese Super League title in 2016. He also helped the team reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2017.
However, despite his success on the pitch, Li's relationship with the club had become strained in recent years. In particular, there were reports of disagreements over contract terms and financial issues.
Despite these challenges, Li remained loyal to the club and continued to play for them until his departure last week. His decision to leave was reportedly due to personal reasons, although he did not provide any further details.
The news of Li's departure comes as a blow to Beijing Guoan, who have struggled in recent seasons and will now look to find a replacement for their long-serving midfielder. However, they will be hoping that they can replace him with a player who can continue to help them achieve success on the pitch.