Newcastle bolster back four with Eibar’s Florian Lejeune

French defender Florian Lejeune has signed a five-year deal with Newcastle United after impressing in Spain with Eibar.

Lejeune, Newcastle's second recruit of the pre-season

The 26-year-old central defender joins the Magpies on a 9.9 million euro move to become Rafa Benítez's second summer signing. A few weeks ago, the Spanish coach signed Chelsea winger Christian Atsu, who helped Newcastle win promotion back to the Premier League during his loan spell with the club last season.

Lejeune moves to Newcastle after a long a spell in Spain which began with Villarreal in 2011. He was signed by Manchester City during the summer of 2015 but was immediately loaned out to Girona, before making a permanent switch to Eibar 12 months later.

Benítez is happy with the team’s new acquisition, and told reporters: “He has progressed a lot as a player in the last few years and I know he will give us something different at the back, he is good with both feet, he's big and he's good in the air as well”.