West Ham transfer news: Kevin Nolan leaves by mutual consent as Slaven Bilic praises 'great captain and great professional'
Nolan leaves West Ham having made 157 appearances for the Hammers and guiding them to promotion
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Your support makes all the difference.Kevin Nolan has left West Ham by mutual consent, the club have confirmed.
The 33-year-old's contract has been resolved and he is free to look for a new club.
Nolan captained the east London club to promotion to the Premier League in 2012 and was their top scorer in the following two seasons. In all he scored 31 goals in 157 games for the club.
His departure was confirmed in a statement issued via the club's official website, www whufc.com.
It said: "West Ham United would like to thank Kevin for his considerable effort and commitment over the past four seasons and wish him all the very best for the future, on and off the football pitch."
Nolan, who joined the Hammers from Newcastle in June 2011, indicated his intention to look for a new challenge as he aims to continue his career elsewhere.
He said: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at West Ham United and will take some great memories with me. I'm now looking forward to the next challenge playing for a new club."
Nolan was signed by then new manager Sam Allardyce after he had failed to agree a contract extension with Newcastle, and appointed as skipper with the pair leading the relegated club back into the Barclays Premier league via the play-offs at the first attempt.
He contributed 13 goals to that successful campaign and demonstrated his enduring potency back in the top flight, where he found the back of the net 10 times in 35 appearances on his return.
However, Allardyce's departure at the end of the last campaign and the subsequent arrival of Slaven Bilic saw Nolan slip down the pecking order and, although he was involved in the Europa League qualifying campaign, he has started only one of the three Premier League games they have played to date this season, Saturday's 4-3 home defeat by promoted Bournemouth in which he was withdrawn at half-time.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, Bilic said of Nolan: "I can only say a big thanks to Kevin from the club because he was a great captain and a great professional. I wish him well."
PA
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