Transfer Window: Kevin Nolan Breaks Geordie Hearts by Confirming His Departure

After a flurry of surprising rumors, Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan has finally confirmed his departure from the Tyneside club for an undisclosed fee. The move comes after reports of a breakdown in contract talks, which led to a rejected bid of around £1.5 million from freshly relegated West Ham United.

However, it is believed that a bid of closer to £4 million was enough to convince the north-eastern club to part with their captain, who completed his medical assessment with West Ham on Wednesday.

Fellow midfielder Joey Barton expressed his disappointment via his Twitter account: "Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer and mostly a friend for life. Devastated to see him SOLD!"

Another star tipped to leave the club, Jose Enrique, added via his own account that "[l]osing Kevin is a tremendous loss to this club," before questioning the future direction of the club.

There are fears that Nolan's exit may spark a mass exodus, with Liverpool already expressing an interest in Enrique and talk of Barton undergoing similar issues in his own contract negotiations with the club. Both players were star performers in Newcastle United's return to top-flight football and are likely to be well sought after by other clubs.

With many of the club's other targets, such as Gervinho, Danny Graham or Kevin Gameiro, having already signed elsewhere or looking close to doing so, this could become yet another transfer window that the loyal Toon Army would rather forget.

However, it's not all doom and gloom. Lille's Yohan Cabaye has already signed a four-year contract for the side, and West Ham's early 2011 purchase Demba Ba is reported to be close to also signing a deal with the Tynesiders.