Ghana’s talented winger Christian Atsu has quit Newcastle United after five years with the English Premier League club.
The 29-year-old announced his decision to leave the Magpies on Tuesday in an open letter to fans of the club.
The winger took the decision to leave the club following the expiration of his contract on Monday night and both parties agreeing not to extend the deal.
Atsu joined Newcastle on loan from Chelsea in 2016 but made the move permanent a year later after impressing in his first season with the club.
In his five years with the Magpies, the Ghana international played 107 matches and scored eight goals.
But Atsu became surplus to requirements at the club and was left out of the English Premier League sqiad of the club last season which might have forced both parties not to extend the contract.
The Ghana winger thanked fans and officials of the club for some wonderful years, including the time he played a crucial role for the Magpies to help them to return to the English top-flight.
“When I arrived in Newcastle almost 5 years ago, I was made to feel welcome from the start..by everyone at the club and especially by the fans. I grew to love the city and my young family feel very at home here,” Atsu wrote on Tuesday.
“Sadly, the time has now come for me to leave the club, so I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who is part of the Newcastle United family.
“Thank you to the Toon Army fans, a lot of whom I’ve met around the city. I will never forget my time in the North East and for sure I will follow the results every week. Thank you my Geordie staff, players & fans, it’s been a pleasure!”