NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed the signing of Sven Botman, with the Dutch centre-half having agreed the terms of a five-year deal on Tyneside.

Botman has completed his medical with the Magpies, having flown into the North-East on Monday morning to finalise his move from Lille.

Newcastle confirmed a deal had been agreed in principle this evening, with the formalities of the transfer due to be completed before Eddie Howe’s squad return to training at the end of the week.

A Newcastle statement said: “Newcastle United have agreed a deal in principle with LOSC Lille to sign Dutch defender Sven Botman for an undisclosed fee, holding off competition from a host of European sides to secure the highly-rated centre-back.

“Botman has completed his medical on Tyneside and agreed the terms of a five-year contract. The formalities of the transfer are set to be concluded this week, following which the 22-year-old will officially become a Newcastle United player.”

Botman becomes the Magpies’ third summer signing, following full-back Matt Targett, who completed a permanent switch from Aston Villa, and goalkeeper Nick Pope, who joined from Burnley.

The Dutchman’s arrival finally brings an end to a pursuit that initially began in January, when Lille turned down a succession of offers from Newcastle.

A deal was finally agreed earlier this month, with the Magpies paying around €35m for Botman’s services, but it took time for the technicalities of the transfer to be ironed out, with competing interest from AC Milan briefly looking as though it might scupper the switch.

Milan made a number of offers, but none matched the final deal agreed with Newcastle, and Botman eventually agreed to move to St James’ Park.

A Netherlands Under-21 international, he is set to play alongside Dan Burn in Howe’s first-choice central-defensive line-up next season, and should be available to travel to Austria with the rest of Newcastle’s first-team squad for a pre-season training camp next month.