Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on Thursday confirmed captain Marek Hamsik has joined Chinese Super League (CSL) side Dalian Yifang.

As an all-time record appearance holder and the club's leading goal scorer, the 31-year-old has completed 520 games and scored 121 goals for the Serie A side, surpassing club legend Diego Maradona's 115 goal haul in 2017 and Giuseppe Bruscolotti's total of 511 appearances.

De Laurentiis, speaking ahead of Napoli's Europa League game against Zurich on Thursday, sent his best wishes for Hamsik. "The door will always be open for him here."

The Slovakian midfielder has reportedly reached a three-year deal with Dalian, with the CSL side paying 20 million euros (22.6 million U.S. dollars) to secure his signature.

A move from Napoli to Dalian Yifang brings Hamsik an end to his 12-year spell with the club.

"First of all, I have to apologize to the blue fans. I wanted and hoped of saying goodbye with a big lap around the field, embraced by your applause. You have always supported and loved me unconditionally in beautiful or difficult moments. I will always be grateful for this," Hamsik wrote on Instagram.

"I would like to thank everyone: the president who gave me the opportunity to stay here for 12 years and who accepted my wish to try a new experience; all the coaches who trained me, to whom I owe my growth as a player and as a man; all the medical and technical staff and the Sports League Soccer Naples; my friends, whom I will miss, but I know they will never abandon me because they are part of my family."

"Thanks to everyone and good luck to my teammates. I hope you guys can win the Europa League!"

Hamsik will join up with ex-Benfica attacker Nicolas Gaitan and former Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco in Dalian.