Newcastle United news: Steven Taylor to leave St James' Park after 21 years
The defender signed his first professional contract with the North East side, aged 17, in July 2003 but started at the bottom of the ladder at youth level in 1995
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Your support makes all the difference.Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor is to leave the club after 21 years of service following relegation to the Championship.
The 30-year-old has been with Newcastle since 1995 and - other than a brief loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers in the 2003/04 season - has dedicated himself solely to his boyhood club, making 268 appearances and scoring 13 goals.
Taylor helped the Mapgies to win the Intertoto Cup in 2006 before proving useful to ex-manager Chris Hughton during the promotion campaign back to the Premier League six seasons ago.
The defender’s influence has waned in previous campaigns, however, and he made just seven appearances as Rafael Benitez’s side were relegated last term.
Taylor told the club's website: “It will be a huge wrench to leave Newcastle but I've been offered exciting opportunities both in the UK and abroad and I'm really looking forward to my next challenge. I've loved my time at Newcastle. I'll always be a huge fan of the club and I'll be returning to St James' Park as a supporter whenever I can.”
I'll always be a huge fan of the club and I'll be returning to St James' Park as a supporter whenever I can.
The St James’ Park favourite signed his first professional contract with the North East side, aged 17, in July 2003 before making his debut against Real Mallorca in the Uefa Cup a year later.
United manager Benitez said: “Steven has been a very good player for this club for a long time and his character and personality has always been very positive, including during difficult times.
“I would like to thank Steven for his service and I wish him well for his future.”