Seattle Sounders say Chinese team wants Obafemi Martins

SEATTLE – Forward Obafemi Martins didn’t travel to preseason camp with the Seattle Sounders, who are considering an offer to send him to a team in the Chinese Super League.

The 31-year-old has been with the Sounders since 2013 and scored 15 goals in 21 regular-season games last year. The BBC reported Sunday that Martins has joined Shanghai Shenhua.

Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey said in an audio statement released by the team Sunday: “Obafemi’s not here with us in this phase of camp. We’ve had an approach from a Chinese club for his services. It could take a while to have that resolved.”

Seattle is preparing for its 2016 opener against Mexico’s America on Feb. 23 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Lagerway said, “Hopefully we know more by the end of the week.”