Newcastle complete £20.5m move for Almiron & break 13-year-old transfer record

Newcastle have broken their 13-year-old transfer record after completing the signing of Atlanta United forward Miguel Almiron.

The fee is believed to be £20.5million, making him the most expensive signing in the club's history ahead of Michael Owen - who was signed for £16m back in 2005.

Almiron has penned a five-and-a-half-year deal worth around £60,000 per week plus bonuses.

'I'm very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team mates,' Almiron told Newcastle'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.'

Benitez added: '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.

'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 focussed 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.'

The 24-year-old Almiron recorded double figures for both goals and assists in MLS last season, scoring 13 and setting up 11.

He helped the club lift the MLS Cup last season and has twice been named an All-Star.