If Sounders fans saw this coming, they probably would have been screaming at their TVs and computers as soon as they received wind of the news: Obafemi Martins, the Nigerian soccer star and crowd pleaser known for his incredible goals and even more spectacular reactions, has left Seattle for good. The speedy forward is now a member of the Chinese Super League, playing for the Shanghai Greenland Shenhua team. He is also still a member of the Nigeria national team—but he is no longer an official Sounder. He officially signed with Shanghai on February 18, 2016.

Martins says that it’s all about the challenge—and for anyone who knows him, that should not come as a surprise. The 31-year-old has always been about making goals and being the best, often appearing to play versus himself more than any other player or team. He says, “I've grown to appreciate the feeling I get when entering environments where I'm not a proven footballer.” Yes, he has already proven himself just to get this far and yes, there have been rumors since January that something was happening, but it was Martins’ own Twitter post that confirmed the news to the world. He gave Seattle a wonderful parting message, ending with “Rave on.”

Martins is certainly the epitome of strength, resilience and perseverance in MLS. He went from Nigeria to Italy to North America, immersing himself in different cultures that were as challenging as the sport—if not moreso. Now he is going even further, traveling to a nation where he will learn all new customs, lifestyle, and language. As much as he will be missed, you cannot help but give him immense respect for not just being one of the best Sounders players in history, but also his own ferocity and love of the game.

Clint Dempsey, who partnered with Martins for some pretty epic plays over the years, was very gracious about the team’s loss. Dempsey said Martins was one of his favorite teammates that he’s ever played with and that he really enjoyed his time with Martins. He also said, “I have a lot of respect for Oba. He’s come from a little kid in Nigeria to playing at some of the best clubs in the world. He’s had a great career. Who am I to tell him anything?”

Do you think this move has anything to do with the team’s acquisition of Jordan Morris—and even if not, will it mean Morris will start more often than previously thought?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia