Australian international footballer Aaron Mooy has swapped the English Premier League for the Chinese Super League after signing for Shanghai SIPG for an undisclosed fee. “Aaron has been an excellent professional during his time with us,” Brighton and Hove Albion boss Graham Potter told the BBC. 'It's a good move for all parties. We have a number of really good players in that position and therefore Aaron goes with our blessing.' Sports website The Athletic reported that Mooy’s contract had a £4 million (US$5.4 million) release clause exclusively for Chinese clubs, a clause which was also in place at his previous club Huddersfield Town. The website said that Mooy will be paid £3 million (US$4 million) per year in Shanghai. The move also means that Mooy will be closer to Australia for their Fifa World Cup qualifiers ahead of Qatar 2022. The AFC has postponed all qualifiers until next year but when they resume, Mooy will cut down his travel time for internationals. Midfielder Mooy, 29, arrives in the CSL from Brighton and Hove Albion. He was initially brought to England by Manchester City from their sister Australian A-League club Melbourne City before being loaned out to Huddersfield Town, who signed him on a permanent deal and later loaned him to Brighton. He joined the Seagulls permanently in January. In 96 games in the English Premier League, Mooy scored nine times and provided six assists. Mooy, whose professional career began at Scottish side St Mirren before returning to Australia, will join the 2018 CSL champions as they look to replicate that title win this season. The club – led by foreign stars Oscar, Hulk and Marko Arnautovic – sit top of the Suzhou group of eight teams, with the top four advancing to the knockout rounds and to play for the championship. Elsewhere in the Chinese Super League several of the overseas players have left to return to Europe ahead of the Uefa Nations League. Israel’s Eran Zahavi and Italy’s Stephan El Shawaary returned to play for their countries The Israeli striker, who scored his 100th goal in China earlier this season, is understood to be leaving Guangzhou R&F permanently. Israeli media reported that he will not return to China after Israel’s games against Scotland and Slovakia next week with a host of clubs jockeying for his signature including former club Maccabi Tel Aviv, Turkish giants Fenerbahce and MLS sides Inter Miami and LA Galaxy. Zahavi’s contract with the CSL club ends in December and Israel FA spokesman Shlomi Barzel told the sports website One that the player has likely played his last game in China. “The fact that he was released by his Chinese club for the national team matches, while his compatriot teammate Dia Saba was not released, despite our efforts, shows that this is the end,” Barzel said. Zahavi scored 91 goals in the CSL in his three and a half seasons, including a record 29 last season.