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.

After manager David Moyes had been on a scouting mission to Korea, both Chinese stars arrived at the club as part of a sponsorship deal with electronics company Kejian, and it was hoped they would be a success in the Premiership. But right from the start of the deal there were doubts about Li Weifeng's position, particularly when Everton were only expecting to sign Li Tie, who had impressed Moyes during the World Cup.

Li Weifeng was also surprisingly included in the deal and it is believed Moyes, away with the first-team squad in Europe at the time, was equally shocked by the double signing.

Li Tie has been a tremendous success and boosted Everton's image and merchandising in the Far East. But Li Weifeng made only two first-team appearances and spent the rest of his time in the reserves before returning home injured at Christmas.