NEWCASTLE UNITED have finally rubber-stamped Remy Cabella’s permanent move to Marseille.

Cabella’s miserable time on the St James’ Park pay-roll has come to an end and Marseille will pay the £7.3m fee the two clubs agreed on as part of his season-long loan deal.

The 26-year-old played just 24 times for Newcastle and Rafael Benitez was happy for him to leave Tyneside despite never having the opportunity to have him under his watch.

There was an option for Marseille to trigger a full-time switch once he had passed the 12 game mark in Ligue 1 and he had racked those up by November, even if there was no confirmation.

Cabella said in February: “There is the option (in the loan for Marseille) to buy, this is what was expected from the start. Normally I (expect to be at) Marseille next season.

“I am happy. I have adapted well (and) fast. I get along great with the club, the staff and all the players. There is a great atmosphere (here). Now I want to help this club back to the highest level.”

Marseille are also in discussions with Newcastle aimed at taking Florian Thauvin back to the Stade Velodrome on a season-long loan.

The French forward was a major flop following his £15m move last summer and he spent the back end of last season in the south of France.

Former Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa, meanwhile, is close to striking a deal with Sevilla ahead of becoming a free agent from his contract at Nice on July 1.