BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Team captain Marek Hamsik will end his 12-year spell at Italian powerhouse Napoli and join Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, the club announced.

"An agrement has been reached with Dalian - I wish Marek happiness in China. The door will always be open for him here at Napoli," Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis tweeted on Thursday.

Hamsik joined Napoli in 2007 when the club was promoted to Serie A. With 121 goals from 520 appearances for Napoli, the Slovakia international midfielder has become the all-time top goal scorer and appearance leader of the club.

"A captain, an example, a footballer and a man that Napoli will love forever and that will remain forever in our history," the club said in a statement.

"Napoli in my heart," Hamsik started his lengthy goodbye letter on his social media. "I have 'Napoli' tattooed on my skin, as well as our first victory in the Coppa Italia after 25 years. It's impossible to forget that game."

"I'd 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; all the medical and technical staff and my friends, whom I will miss, but I know they will never abandon me because they are part of my family...I love you and I will love this city forever."

The 31-year-old will play alongside former Atletico Madrid duo Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan in Dalian, which finished 11th in the 16-team Chinese Super League last season.