Defender Kevin Mbabu has claimed that “injuries” and “new opinions” were at fault for his decision to cut short his career at Newcastle United this summer.
The Premier League new boys confirmed on their official club website on Thursday that Mbabu had put pen-to-paper on a three-year-deal with Swiss outfit BSC Young Boys.
Mbabu, 22, enjoyed a successful spell on loan in the Swiss Super League during the 2016-17 campaign, where he made 27 appearances in all competitions for the club.
However, upon his return to Newcastle ahead of the new season, Mbabu has elected to call-time on his stay on Tyneside and seek a fresh challenge at Young Boys.
Following his departure, Mbabu took to his personal Twitter account to deliver a parting message to the Newcastle fans, offering an explanation as to his decision to quit the club.
He said: “I’ve been proud to wear the the black and white shirt and I gave everything I had each time I got the chance to play for this club.
“I would have loved to give you more but injuries and new opinions have decided differently. I learned a lot in my time at Newcastle but the biggest is yet to come for me.
“I’ll never forget my professional debut with the team. It was a special moment. I can still feel the atmosphere when I first played at St. James’ Park. You fans, were and still are just amazing.”
— Kevin Mbabu (@Kevin_Baboo) June 16, 2017
Mbabu leaves Newcastle having made just five first-team appearances for the club during his four-and-a-half-year stay.
The Switzerland youth international began his professional career at Servette in his homeland, but arrived at Newcastle following a successful trial in January 2013.
However, despite breaking into the senior squad for the 2015-16 season, the defender saw regular opportunities severely limited due to a series of niggling injuries.
He made just two Premier League appearances before being sidelined with an Achilles injury, only to make one further appearance in the competition before seeing his season cut abruptly short with another long-term setback.
Mbabu also spent time on loan at Rangers during the second half of the 2014-15 season, but he failed to make a single appearance in the matchday squad for the Scottish club in a nightmare spell.