Eddie Newton has left Chelsea to join Trabzonspor as the Turkish club’s assistant manager.

Newton had been working at Chelsea this season as an assistant coach having previously held that position under Guus Hiddink and, most memorably, Roberto Di Matteo when we won the Champions League in 2012.

Newton first arrived at Chelsea as a 13-year-old, and progressed through the ranks to become a Blues legend. He famously scored the second goal in our historic 1997 FA Cup triumph, and left for Birmingham two years later having tasted success in the League Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, too. In all he made 214 appearances for us.

Injury curtailed his career early and he returned to Chelsea to work in our Academy, before linking up with his former midfield team-mate Di Matteo at MK Dons and West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies won promotion to the Premier League.

Having been assistant first team coach at Chelsea when we won the Champions League and the FA Cup in 2012, Newton subsequently returned to our Academy when Di Matteo departed. Held in the utmost respect at Cobham, in 2016 he became a loan player technical coach, before joining Frank Lampard’s staff in July.

The next step in the 48-year-old’s career will be at Trabzonspor, the decorated Turkish Super Lig side located on the Black Sea coast. Among their current playing staff are two former Blues with whom Newton worked closely, John Mikel Obi and Daniel Sturridge.

We would like to thank Eddie for his dedicated service to the club and wish him the best of luck with this exciting new venture. He’ll always be welcome back at Stamford Bridge.