Newcastle United have bolstered their defence ahead of a return to the Premier League with the signing of Florian Lejeune from Eibar.
The centre-back becomes the Magpies second arrival of the close-season following the permanent switch of Christian Atsu from Chelsea.
Lejeune has put pen to paper on a five-year deal at St James Park, meaning he will stay at Newcastle – promoted as champions under Rafael Benitez last season – until 2022.
I m very happy to have signed. Newcastle United is a big club, and I m very happy to be here, Lejeune told Newcastle s official website.
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.
Tough. Uncompromising. No nonsense.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)
Lejeune first moved to LaLiga with Villarreal in 2011 from Istres but was scarcely used in the first team.
The 26-year-old was signed by Manchester City from Girona ahead of the 2015-16 season, but was immediately loaned back and did not make a first-team appearance in the Premier League.
A permanent move to Eibar followed and he made 34 LaLiga outings last term as the team finished 10th.
