Newcastle United midfielder Vurnon Anita will be one of five senior players leaving the club this summer, it has been confirmed.
The Premier League new boys released their retained list following the 2016-17 season on their official club website on Friday, where it was confirmed that Anita would be released this summer.
Anita, 28, made 155 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies, and was a regular player under Rafa Benitez last season, but he is set to leave the club after a five-year spell.
He was out of contract this summer, and Newcastle have confirmed that he will be released alongside senior trio Sammy Ameobi, Lubomir Satka and Haris Vuckic.
The trio had offered promise during their early years at the Premier League club, but had failed to establish themselves as regular fixtures in the first-team squad and have now been moved on.
However, the Magpies also confirmed that French international winger Florian Thauvin will also be leaving the club, after sealing a permanent move to Marseille.
The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at the Orange Velodrome, where he scored 15 goals and supplied 11 assists from 43 appearances in all competitions.
He had arrived at Newcastle for £15million in 2015, but had struggled to make an impact on Tyneside, and was allowed to return to France on loan last term.
A host of academy players are also set to depart St. James’ Park, with Gideon Adu-Peprah, Daniel Lowther, Stefan Broccoli, Jamie Holmes and Ben Smith failing to earn fresh deals.
Benitez was expected to allow a few of his senior players to leave the club this summer as he attempts to trim the fringes of the squad before bringing in quality reinforcements to aid their Premier League battle next term.