Newcastle transfer news: Miguel Almiron completes move to break 14-year-old transfer record

The £20m fee is the highest Newcastle have paid for a player since 2005

Newcastle have broken their transfer record and completed the signing of Miguel Almiron on a five-and-a-half-year from MLS side Atlanta United.

The deal to bring the 24-year-old to the Premier League, understood to be in the region of £20m, tops the £16m that was paid to Real Madrid to sign Michael Owen in 2005.

Almiron will be part of the Newcastle squad for their match against Tottenham on Saturday and will wear the number 24.

Almiron, who has 13 caps for Paraguay, was a key player in Atlanta United's 2018 MLS Cup win and says Rafa Benitez was the biggest reason for him joining Newcastle.

"I’m very happy and eager to start and to meet my new teammates," Almirón told NUFC TV. "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."

Rafa Benítez has been vocal about his disappointment in the lack of transfer funds available to him and threatened to leave the Magpies at the end of the week if they did not act. However, the manager is pleased at the £20m outlay to land one of his key targets.

"We were following Miguel Almirón 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.

Miguel Almiron has signed a contract until June 2024 (Newcastle United)

"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."

Newcastle’s 2-1 shock win against champions Manchester City lifted the side to 14th in the table but did not ease the fan discontent at the owner.

Anti-Ashley chants were audible throughout St James’ Park and banners encouraging him to leave were held up in the 11th minute, marking the Newcastle owner’s 11 years at the club.