Mascherano leaves Barcelona for China's Hebei Fortune

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Javier Mascherano will reunite with Manuel Pellegrini at Hebei Fortune after Barcelona and the Chinese Super League (CSL) announced the transfer of the Argentina international on Wednesday.

The transfer fee is believed to be 5.5 million euros, which is just under the 45 million RMB threshold imposed by the Chinese Football Association. Fees above that figure will incur a 100 percent levy.

Mascherano is the first big-name arrival during the current transfer window after authorities in China imposed regulations to limit spiraling transfer fees for foreign players.

CGTN Photo

The Argentinian midfielder has officially joined Hebei Fortune on a two-year contract and will wear number 14, the same as he did at Barca. His departure after seven-and-a-half years with the Spanish club sees him link up again with Pellegrini, his former coach at River Plate.

The defensive midfielder arrived at Barcelona in 2010 from Liverpool. He made 334 appearances and won 18 titles with the Catalan club, including the UEFA Champions League twice and four La Liga trophies. On the international front, he won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2004 and 2008 and helped his nation reach the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.