Newcastle United have completed the signing of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for a fee of £14.5m.
The 24-year-old Dutch international has been linked with a switch to Tyneside over the past two weeks and was officially unveiled as a Newcastle player on Saturday morning after signing a five-year deal until 2020.
He becomes the first new signing under head coach Steve McClaren and is the third biggest signing in Newcastle’s history, just short of the £16m paid for Michael Owen and the £15m for Alan Shearer.
It is the biggest ever signing under controversial owner Mike Ashley and the player arrives with big expectations, having left Dutch champions PSV with 56 goals in 152 games from midfield.
“I am delighted to be a Newcastle player. I felt the time was right to move and the club have shown they really want me, so I’m happy to be here,” said the midfielder, who represented Holland at the 2014 World Cup.
“I know the club has a great stadium with great fans. I want to play there as soon as possible. I want to feel the atmosphere and hear the crowd. I can’t wait to get started.
“There are a few players here from Holland – I know them and they well make me feel at home in Newcastle.”
Wijnaldum is expected to be one of three high-profile arrivals at St James’ Park this summer, with reports in Belgium suggesting Newcastle are closing in on the £14m signing of Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The Magpies, who were threatened with relegation last season, are priced at 5.50 to be relegated in 2015-16.
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