Former
Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi has signed a one-year contract
with second-division Turkish club Gaziantep Buyuksehir Belediyespor. The
32-year
-old Nigerian international was a free agent following his
departure from St James’ Park, where, after graduating from the academy,
he had been a first-team player for 14 years.
A statement published on Gaziantep’s
official website read: “We want to establish an ambitious team in the
league this season, and a strong team continues to strengthen by adding
players. We have therefore tied Nigerian striker Shola Ameobi — from one
of the strongest teams in England, Newcastle United – to us for one
year.”
Ameobi made 312 appearances for the
Magpies, scoring 53 goals, but much of his career on Tyneside was
plagued by injury. He scored UEFA Champions League goals against
Barcelona in 2002 and against Bayer Leverkusen the following year, while
his best return in the English Premier League saw him score nine goals
in 2005/06.
Ameobi’s 11 goals in 21 appearances
helped Newcastle win promotion from the Championship in 2010 but he
steadily became a fringe player as boss Alan Pardew re-established the
club in the top flight. Gaziantep, who are currently managed by Suat
Kaya, finished in 14th place in the TFF First League — the league below
the Turkish Super Lig — last season.
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