Tuesday 4 July 2017 09:22, UK
Newcastle have signed defender Florian Lejeune from La Liga club Eibar on a five-year deal.
Newcastle have been trying to bring the 26-year-old on board for much of the last month but the move was delayed, Sky sources understand, over the payment structure for the £8.7m transfer.
Lejeune, who was on Manchester City's books earlier in his career, becomes Rafa Benitez's second summer signing after the arrival of former loanee Christian Atsu from Chelsea.
"I'm very happy to have signed. Newcastle United is a big club, and I'm very happy to be here," said Lejeune.
"When you have a manager like Rafa Benitez who wants you, you are very happy to come. Since I've been in touch with the manager, it was an easy decision for me to come here."
Benitez added: "I would like to welcome Florian to Newcastle United. He is a player that has done very well this year in Spain. I have known about him for a while, since he began playing for Villarreal.
"He has progressed a lot as a player in the last few years and I know he will give us something different at the back - he is good with both feet, he's big and he's good in the air also.
"If he settles well into English football then I am sure he will be a success and will give us a lot of competition in this area."
