Newcastle have confirmed the departure of France defender Jean-Alain Boumsong to Italian giants Juventus.

The 26-year-old, who was signed last year from Rangers, is set to play in Serie B rather than the top flight of Italian football after Juventus' relegation in the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal.

The deal is initially worth around £3.3 million, which means the club have made a loss on the player bought by Graeme Souness from Rangers for £8 million.

The initial fee could increase depending on how Juventus fare in domestic and European competition, although the Italian side have also been docked 17 points for the coming season.

Boumsong, who has signed a four-year contract at Juve, endured a run of bad form after arriving at St James' Park and made a number of noticeable errors.

He did earn a place in France's squad for this summer's World Cup, although he did not play in Germany as his country reached the final.

Juventus will play a friendly against Newcastle at St James' Park next year as part of the deal.

Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips has signed for West Brom in a £700,000.  The 33-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Baggies after holding talks and passing a medical.

Phillips spent only one season at Villa Park after moving from Southampton and managed just five goals in an injury-hit campaign.