Jean-Alain Boumsong's Newcastle nightmare has come to an end with a £3.3million move to Juventus.
The 26-year-old French international has joined the Italian side, relegated to Serie B as a result of the recent match-fixing scandal, on a four-year contract.
A statement to the Stock Exchange read: "The amount payable to Newcastle United by Juventus for the transfer of the player's registration is 4.8million (euro) plus further sums which are contingent on the future success of Juventus in domestic and UEFA competitions."
Juventus will also play a friendly at St James' Park next summer as part of the deal.
Just how much of the #8million the Magpies paid Rangers for Boumsong in January last year they manage to recoup remains to be seen, but there is little doubt both parties will be relieved his stay has come to an end.
The former Auxerre player managed just 59 senior appearances and never imposed himself in the way former boss Graeme Souness expected.
Souness was intensely loyal to the Frenchman, whose wife and child were both ill during his early days with the club, despite a series of error-strewn displays.
He even voiced the opinion that he would be one of the best defenders at the World Cup Finals despite seeing him taken apart by Cheltenham striker Kayode Odejayi in an FA Cup fourth-round tie in January.
Despite losing his first-team place at Newcastle following the Scot's departure, Boumsong was included in the France squad which made it to the final in Germany, but never kicked a ball in the tournament.
Titus Bramble, Craig Moore, Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage had all eased ahead of him in the pecking order at Newcastle, who will get his #35,000-a-week salary off their books.
The Magpies confirmed earlier today that they have agreed a #10million fee with Inter Milan for Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins, and are now awaiting a response from the player to the personal terms they have offered.
In addition, their pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen and Chelsea full-back Wayne Bridge is ongoing.
