Newcastle United latest news: Former Magpies midfielder Jack Colback has revealed he rejected the chance to join West Ham in favour of moving to St James’ Park.

Jack Colback has revealed he turned down the opportunity to join West Ham to instead make a controversial transfer switch to Newcastle United from Sunderland.

Despite being a boyhood Newcastle United fan, Colback rose through the ranks at the Academy of Light and even scored against the Magpies during Sunderland’s 3-0 win at St James’ Park during the 2013/14 season. However, at the end of that season, Colback’s stay on Wearside would come to an end as he made the move to St James’ Park on a free transfer.

Colback would become a regular on Tyneside under Alan Pardew, Steve McClaren and during Rafa Benitez’s first full season in charge of the club before leaving to join Nottingham Forest, initially on loan, in 2018. Earlier this week, Colback announced on Instagram that he had retired from football at the age of 36, just a month after signing for non-league side Anstey Nomads.

Alongside pictures of him celebrating some big moments during his career, the 36-year-old wrote: ‘Today I’m announcing my retirement from professional football.

‘I feel privileged to have the honour of playing nearly 500 matches at the top level, representing some of the biggest clubs in the country in Newcastle, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Queen’s Park Rangers. From pulling on the shirt for the first time as a young lad to stepping out in front of packed stadiums in the Premier League, it’s been a journey I’ll always be grateful for.

‘There have been highs, lows, promotions, tough defeats, and moments I’ll never forget. I would like to thank all of my coaches, teammates and supporters who helped me to achieve my dream.

‘Looking forward to what the next chapter holds. JC ❤️⚽️’

Jack Colback reveals West Ham transfer rejection

Speaking on the Under the Cosh podcast after announcing his retirement from football, Colback revealed that he almost didn’t join his boyhood club as he had received a tempting offer from West Ham. Despite the opportunity to make more money in London and the backlash he would receive from crossing the Wear-Tyne divide, Colback turned down the offer to join the Hammers in favour of moving to St James’ Park.

“The statement [Sunderland] put out basically said they’d offered me everything I demanded and all this; just nonsense, really, because that wasn’t the case,” Colback said. “It was their opportunity to turn the narrative, and people believe what they read. People see something and that’s it.

“Regardless of me going to Newcastle, I knew what was going to come of that. When I look at it now, I had the courage to do it that not many people probably would.”

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“A six-year deal [at Newcastle], you know? But yeah, it was one of them, I just got on with it. I could have gone to West Ham; an easy move, living in London, no one knows who you are, that sort of thing.

“They actually offered more money. There was a better deal there. So, I didn’t go for the money, I suppose.”

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