Kilmarnock have sold Republic of Ireland Under-18 international defender Corrie Ndaba to Serie A side Lecce for an undisclosed fee.
The versatile 25-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Italian club 12 months after joining Killie on a permanent transfer from Ipswich.
The Irishman spent the previous season at Rugby Park on loan and made 76 appearances in total.
Ndaba showed his gratitude to the "Kilmarnock family" in a farewell message on social media.
"From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you," he wrote. "Since the moment I arrived at Rugby Park, I've felt nothing but love and support from the fans. Your passion, loyalty, and warmth made it an honor (sic) to wear the Kilmarnock badge, and I’ll carry those memories with me forever.
"The way you welcomed me as one of your own means more than I can put into words.
"To the coaching staff, medical team, and everyone behind the scenes — thank you for your belief in me, your hard work, and for helping me grow both on and off the pitch.
"To my teammates — thank you for the shared moments, the laughs, and the unity we had every day. It’s been a privilege to be part of such a group.
"Kilmarnock will always have a place in my heart. I’m excited for the next chapter, but I’ll always be a supporter from afar and will be wishing the club nothing but success."
A club statement added: "Everyone at Kilmarnock FC would like to thank Corrie for his outstanding contribution to the club and the way he represented Killie throughout his time in Ayrshire. We wish him every success in this exciting next chapter of his career in Italy."
The 25-year-old has one cap for the Republic of Ireland U-18 team rom 2016 and was called up to Stephen Kenny's Under-21 side in 2019.
Ndaba is the second Irish player to go to top-tier Italian football this month after Evan Ferguson signed a loan deal with AS Roma from Brighton.
