Cheik Tiote extends deal at Newcastle
Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote has signed a new contract that runs until the end of the 2016/17 season.
The six-and-a-half-year deal follows his arrival from FC Twente on a £3.5m deal in August.
Boss Alan Pardew said he was delighted to retain the 24-year-old Ivory Coast international on a long-term basis.
“Cheik is exactly the type of player I want in my squad. He is fantastic on the pitch and in the changing room,” said Pardew.
“He offers us strength and presence in midfield and has proved himself to be one of the best in his position in the Premier League.
“He’s adapted brilliantly to the English game and I’m delighted he’s signed a new deal with us.”
Ivorian Tiote, who played in last summer’s World Cup, has impressed in his first season in England, with 21 appearances so far and also scored the qualiser in the dramatic 4-4 draw against Arsenal earlier this month.
He and captain Kevin Nolan have become established in the centre of midfield, and Tiote is delighted to be staying at the club.
“I am very happy today to have signed this new deal with Newcastle United,” he said.
“The experience of playing in the Premier League has been better than I ever hoped it could be. This is a great club and the fans have been brilliant – I have never known support like it.”
Nolan told BBC Newcastle: “I’m absolutely delighted, he’s going to be an integral part of this club hopefully in the coming years because he’s a top, top player, and it’s players like we him we need to be building around in the future.
“When he arrived here we hadn’t really heard of him, but once he came into training and we saw the quality he possesses and the way he gets around people, we knew he was a bit of a player.
“He’s a great lad and he’s been brilliant for us this season, arguably one of our best players and I love playing with him.”
Meanwhile, assistant manager John Carver, has been given a new five-and-a-half year deal at the club.
The 46-year-old, who served at Sir Bobby Robson’s number two at St James’ Park in 2002-03, has impressed since returning to Tyneside on a short-term contract in January, and has been rewarded for his efforts with an extended stay.
Carver said: “It is great to get this sorted. It was right for the manager to give me a short-term deal at the time because I didn’t know him and a lot of the players had changed too.
“But it’s been a great month or so, and when he gave me the long-term deal I was delighted.
“I’ve been around the world over the last few years and need to settle down now, and where better than my home town club?”
BBC Sport
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