Newcastle have confirmed the arrival of Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron in a club-record deal worth in excess of £20m.
The Magpies have been pursuing Almiron's signature all month and Rafa Benitez even threatened to quit if the club failed to get a deal over the line.
It was reported earlier in the month that Almiron was demanding too much money to join but
Benitez's reported ultimatium accelerated talks.
Newcastle have even agreed to break their club transfer record to sign the Paraguay international, surpassing the £17m fee they paid Real Madrid for Michael Owen in 2005.
“I’m very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team mates,” he told the club’s official website. “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.”
Almiron’s arrival provides Newcastle with another huge boost after the relegation strugglers came from behind to beat Manchester City on Wednesday night.
The Paraguayan, who was one of the best players in MLS last season, has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League outfit.
Almiron was one of six players in MLS last term to register double figures for goals (13) and assists (11) last season. The Atlanta No.10 was the only player to hit double figures for WhoScored Man of the Match awards (10).
Furthermore, only Sebastian Blanco (18) created more clear-cut goalscoring chances than the 25-year-old (17) in MLS last term (including play-offs).
