Newcastle United have completed a club-record deal to sign Paraguayan forward Miguel Almiron on a five-and-a-half year deal.
The 24-year-old was manager Rafael Benitez's top target this month after impressing with his performances in the MLS for Atlanta United, scoring 13 goals and registering 13 assists to help them win the MLS Cup last year.
Almiron is believed to have moved to the Magpies for a fee of £21m, breaking the club's 14-year transfer record held by Michael Owen, who joined from Real Madrid in a £16.8m deal in 2005.
"We were following Miguel Almiron for a while, and we saw a player with some pace in attack, who can play behind the striker. We have someone who can score goals and give assists," Benitez told the Newcastle website. "We know that MLS is a different challenge to the Premier League but he has the potential to do what we are expecting, and what we need.
"From talking to the lad, you can tell that he is really focused and wants to do well. He wants to be successful and he wants to help the team, to score goals and give assists if it is possible. His impact in MLS has been really good - he's been one of the best players this year - and hopefully he can give us more competition and more quality in the final third. I am pleased that the hard work behind the scenes has ended positively and I thank everyone for their efforts."
Almiron added: "I'm very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team mates. The league is very competitive, this is a historic club, and Rafa Benitez himself were the main reasons why I am here now. I think it is a great responsibility, something beautiful for me, and I will try to offer the best I can to repay the trust the club put in me."
The capture of Almiron, who could make his Newcastle debut in the trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, represents the club's second signing of the window following the arrival of Monaco defender Antonio Barreca on loan earlier today.
Neil Wilkes
