Former 34-goal Newcastle United star finds new club - weeks after contract was terminated

Derby County have signed former Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle after gaining approval from the Football League.

The 34-year-old is available as a free agent after terminating his contract at Stoke City on February 1, where he scored just three times in 50 appearances with his brace in a 5-1 win at Sunderland in March last year the last time he found the net.

Derby, who are chasing automatic promotion from League One, were in need of a forward after leading scorer James Collins was ruled out "for months" with a knee injury.

"We've done all the paperwork and the EFL are working with us to try make it happen," Rams boss Paul Warne said when asked about Gayle. "I've met the kid and he has a couple of League One clubs chasing him. We are doing everything we can to get him in the building."

Gayle had enjoyed a prolific record in the Championship prior to his time with Stoke. The 34-year-old earned a move to Premier League side Crystal Palace after scoring 13 times for Peterborough United before dropping back into England's second tier with Newcastle in 2016.

Signed for £12million by Rafa Benitez, Gayle struck 23 goals to fire United back to the Premier League at the first attempt. In total, he made 122 appearances and scored 34 goals across a six-year spell on Tyneside, which included a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion in 2018-19.

When Gayle departed Newcastle, United head coach Eddie Howe said: “I was very honest with him. I said from day one, from my perspective, I had a great relationship with him, and I love working with him.

"He was brilliant for the team last year, and because of all those things, he deserved the utmost respect and honesty from me about the how the future lay for him, and I wanted to give him the best chance to find his next home.

“I really hope he goes on and has a great season next year, and I wish him nothing but success.”