Former Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has tragically died from a suspected heart attack.
The Ivory Coast international was reportedly taken to hospital after collapsing on the training pitch but emergency services were unable to revive him.
Tiote moved to Chinese Super League side Beijing Enterprises in February after seven years in England with the Magpies.
Tiote’s former Newcastle team-mate Demba Ba tweeted the following upon hearing the news:
The 30-year-old wrote his name into Toon folklore with a dramatic equaliser in their 4-4 draw with Arsenal in 2011, in which his side were 4-0 down at half time.
That proved to be his only ever goal for the Magpies as his battling qualities in midfield consistently forged links with a move to Arsenal.
Tiote played just 16 minutes of league football for Newcastle this season before moving to China in January.
The player’s agent Emanuele Palladino confirmed the news of his client’s death: