Feyenoord have completed the signing of Eljero Elia from Werder Bremen on two-year contract.
Elia, 28, spent the second half of the 2014-15 season on loan at Southampton from Bremen, scoring two goals in 16 appearances for the Premier League club.
Bremen's sporting director Rouven Schroder said in June that Southampton had wanted to sign Elia on a permanent deal, though kicker reported that the Ronald Koeman's side were not willing to pay the Netherlands international's €5.5 million release clause.
NIEUWS: Eljero Elia is Feyenoorder! De 28-jarige aanvaller heeft zojuist voor 2 jaar getekend in De Kuip. #WelkomElia pic.twitter.com/fWM34aQXEC
- Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) August 6, 2015
Elia has instead opted for a move to the Eredivisie, with a statement on Feyenoord's official website reading: "Eljero Elia signed a two-year contract with Feyenoord on Thursday morning.
"The 28-year-old winger, who passed his medical on Wednesday, joins the club from Werder Bremen with immediate effect."
The Dutch side's technical director Martin van Geel said: "Eljero has expressly chosen to take the sporting challenge at Feyenoord. In recent years he has played at big clubs in major European leagues.
"With that experience and his qualities he will certainly be able to help our team progress. We are delighted that Eljero has chosen Feyenoord."
Elia made his Eredivisie debut for ADO Den Haag in 2005 before making a move to FC Twente after two seasons. The winger then joined Bundesliga side Hamburg for two years before spending a season at Juventus and then opting for Bremen in 2012.
The player took to Instagram to thank Southampton fans for their support during his loan spell.
A photo posted by Eljero Elia (@eljeroelia) on
Elia will wear the No. 11 shirt at Feyenoord, which was vacated earlier this week by Jean-Paul Boetius following his move to FC Basel.
