Transfer news: Ex-England, Tottenham and Liverpool star Steven Caulker leaves QPR on a free… aged just 25
ENGLAND international defender Steven Caulker has left Queens Park Rangers by mutual consent.
The 25-year-old will now be hoping to kickstart his faltering career with a fresh start elsewhere after his departure from a troublesome three-year stint at Loftus Road.
The R's confirmed the news on Thursday via Twitter, saying: "Steven Caulker has left #QPR by mutual consent with immediate effect.
"We wish him well for the future."
Caulker had not played for the Championship side since September and had only made four appearances all season.
His exit marks another low point in a career that promised so much for the centre-back after he burst onto the scene with Tottenham in 2012.
After representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, Caulker made his England debut against Sweden in November of that year and celebrated with a goal on his only senior international appearance to date.
Caulker had loan spells with Yeovil, Bristol City and Swansea before newly-promoted Cardiff forked out a club record £8million fee to Spurs to sign him in July 2013.
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He was an ever-present for the Bluebirds but was unable to prevent them from suffering relegation.
That led to another big-money move to QPR in the summer of 2014 but his time at Loftus Road has been mixed.
A year later he was off again as he joined Southampton on a season-long loan, but after just eight appearances that was cancelled on January 12 2016 in order for him to make a surprise switch to Liverpool for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite being a defender by trade, his time at Anfield is remembered mainly for his cameos as a striker.
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He spoke of troubles with depression, gambling and alcohol addiction.
Footage also emerged back in March of him being arrested after apparently failing to take a breathalyser test.
Earlier in the year Caulker's £100,00 Range Rover was daubed with graffiti just hours after he was accused of two-timing his girlfriend.