Former Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has died aged 30 after collapsing in Beijing.

The former Newcastle United and Ivory Coast midfielder moved to Chinese League One club Beijing Enterprises Group FC in January 2017, but was taken ill during training on Monday and rushed to hospital.

Tiote begun his pro career in Belgium with Anderlecht, a period which included a loan spell with Roda JC.

From there he moved to FC Twente in the Netherlands, establishing himself as an effective defensive midfielder, making 86 appearances for the Dutch side.

He moved to the Premier League to join Newcastle in 2010 and made over 150 appearances for the Toon before leaving for China at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

Tiote was plying his trade in the second tier in China for Beijing Enterprises. He had played 17 times for the club before his death.

He was part of the Ivory Coast squad that beat Ghana on penalties to win the 2015 African Cup of Nations and represented the Elephants 52 times.

 

Gutted to hear the awful news about my former teammate Cheik Tiote today. Thoughts with his friends and family.