Li Weifeng returned on Orient Express

EVERTON’S ‘forgotten’ Chinese star Li Weifeng has quit the club after failing to make the grade in the Premiership.

The 24-year-old defender returned home at Christmas for treatment on his broken nose. He was initially due to return to Goodison Park at the end of this month, but his contract has been terminated and he has rejoined his former club, Shanzhen Jian Lia Bao, formerly Shanzhen Kejian.

It is a sad end to part of the China experience for Everton, who signed Li Tie and Li Weifeng both members of the China World Cup squad in Korea and Japan last summer at the start of this season.