Seattle Sounders star Clint Dempsey has told reporters that forward Obafemi Martins was within his rights to leave the club for a lucrative offer from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, and counted the Nigerian among his favorite to play with.
The 31-year-old Martins, who had been with the Sounders since 2013, will reportedly move to the Shanghai club for a transfer fee of around $3 million, according to an ESPN FC source.
Martins scored 40 goals and added 23 assists in 80 league and playoff appearances, and was named in the MLS Best XI in 2014 during his time in Seattle.