Former Newcastle United and Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote has died from a heart attack aged 30, after he collapsed during training with his current club Beijing Enterprises FC.
Tiote collapsed during training in China with the club he joined from Newcastle in February, his agent Emanuele Palladino confirmed.
“I can confirm that my client Cheick Tiote sadly passed away today after collapsing in training with his club Beijing Enterprises,” said Palladino in the statement, the Guardian reported.
“We cannot say any more at the moment and we request that his family’s privacy be respected at this difficult time. We ask for all your prayers.”
Tributes were paid to the midfielder, including from his former club, who tweeted: "We are devastated to have learnt of the tragic passing of former Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tioté in China today."
His former manager at Newcastle, Rafael Benitez, said: "In the time I have known him, he was a true professional, dedicated, talented and above all, a great man."
Tiote made 53 international appearances for the Ivory Coast and was part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.