Cheick this out: Tiote latest to leave for China

Matt Stead

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has finally completed his move to Chinese second division side Beijing Enterprises, the Sky Bet Championship club have announced.

The protracted transfer was formally concluded on Thursday morning when the 30-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder ended his six-and-a-half-year stay at St James’ Park.

A statement said: “The club can now confirm that Cheick Tiote has joined Chinese second-tier side Beijing Enterprises for an undisclosed fee.

“The deal was formally completed on Thursday morning, bringing an end to the Ivorian midfielder’s six-and-a-half-year Newcastle career.”

Tiote, who arrived at St James’ Park in a £3.5million move from Dutch club FC Twente in August 2010, made 156 senior appearances for the Magpies, but only three of them this season with two of those in the FA Cup.

He scored just one goal, but it was one to remember as his stunning volley capped a remarkable fightback in a 4-4 Premier League draw with Arsenal in February 2011 – when Newcastle came from 4-0 down at half-time.

The combative Tiote was a major hit in is first two seasons in England, to the extent that he was linked with both Arsenal and Manchester United as he helped the club finish in fifth place under Alan Pardew at the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

But his influence waned thereafter and he had seen proposed moves to Turkey, Spain, Russia and the Middle East break down during recent transfer windows.