Former Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has passed away in China, aged 30.
The Ivorian enforcer collapsed during training for new club Beijing Enterprises earlier today, and was rushed to hospital. He reportedly died of a heart attack.
Tiote joined Newcastle from FC Twente in 2010, and made 139 league appearances across seven seasons on Tyneside.
After multiple reports emerging from China, the Daily Mail's North East football correspondent Craig Hope confirmed the tragic news. Sky Sports' own North East correspondent, Keith Downie, relayed the same through the player's agent, Emanuele Palladino.
Sadly, it has been confirmed that Cheick Tiote has died in China at the age of 30. RIP.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) June 5, 2017
Cheick Tiote's agent Emanuele Palladino has confirmed the death of his client and asked that the family's privacy is respected at this time.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) June 5, 2017
Palladino has since announced:
I confirm that my client Cheick Tiote passed away today after collapsing in training with his club Beijing Enterprises.
The Ivorian's former Newcastle teammates led the tributes to the tenacious midfielder on Twitter.
Muy triste escuchar del fallecimiento de tiote. Descansa en paz amigo. Very sad to hear about the pass away of tiote. Rip my friend. #nufc
— Jonas Gutierrez (@elgalgojonas) June 5, 2017
😭😭😭 may Allah gives grant you jannah brother Tiote 😭😭😭
— Demba Ba (@dembabafoot) June 5, 2017
Gutted to hear the awful news about my former teammate Cheik Tiote today. Thoughts with his friends and family.
— Stephen Harper (@steveharper37) June 5, 2017
Devastated to hear about my friend/team mate Cheik Tiote. One of the good guys, a lovely lovely man taken far to soon. Heartbreaking 😢
— Ryan Taylor (@TaylorR1984) June 5, 2017
RIP Cheick Tioté Will always be remebered for this outstanding goal vs Arsenal pic.twitter.com/L3ZaPKrMdK
— Č (@sxturxtion) June 5, 2017
More to follow.
