After months of speculation and rumors flying all over the internet, Miguel Almiron has officially signed with Newcastle United for a reported MLS record $27 million. The attacking midfielder joined Atlanta United as a promising young talent with standout performances for both the Paraguay National Team and Lanus. His time in Atlanta forced open Newcastle owner Mike Ashley’s wallet, as he garnered the highest transfer fee paid by the club for a player. We are delighted to announce the signing of forward Miguel Almirón from @ATLUTD. The 24-year-old has penned a five-and-a-half-year deal which will keep him at St. James' Park until June 2024. Full story: https://t.co/5NxxCEHhNx #NUFC pic.twitter.com/a5MV5QBTum — Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 31, 2019 While Almiron followed the call of “quiero contar contigo” when Tata Martino asked him to join the Five Stripes, he will have a much different challenge in front of him with the Magpies. Fresh off of their win against Manchester City, Newcastle sits five points out of the relegation zone, but have only scored 21 goals in 24 games. In obvious need of scoring, Miggy should feature prominently in Rafa Benitez’s team. His transfer opens up the needed Designated Player slot that Atlanta needed upon signing Pity Martinez. It will also give the team more financial resources to further invest in the club. **Update: In a release from Newcastle, Almiron stated, “I’m very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team mates,” 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.” For his part, Benetiz seemed happy with the acquisition noting, “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.” The other United involved in the transfer noted that the transfer fee was a record for MLS, but wouldn’t put an exact figure on the fee paid. #ATLUTD breaks MLS Transfer record, Almirón officially signs with Newcastle United DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/pe9287PF5d pic.twitter.com/KK02XhVVjz — Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) January 31, 2019 Club President Darren Eales thanked Miguel for his commitment and excellent play for the club in a statement and said, “This is also a landmark day for Atlanta United,” said Eales. “We not only shattered the league transfer fee record, but gave proof of concept for our original club model of signing top young players and giving them a chance to thrive and develop.” The change in clubs will also bring a new number for the talisman as the number 24 will adorn Almiron in the Premier League.<doc-sep>Get the latest NUFC updates, transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Newcastle United fans will have to wait a little longer than they would ideally like before they see new signing Miguel Almiron in action. It is understood that the Paraguayan playmaker will be ineligible to face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Saturday because he is still yet to collect his visa, so is unable to work in the United Kingdom yet. Instead, Almiron is likely to make his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Monday, February 11 - but he will have to wait under Saturday, February 23, to make his St James' Park bow against Huddersfield Town. However, fans should not be unduly concerned that Almiron is yet to be granted a work permit; it should be a mere formality that he is given the right to work in the UK due to the fact he is a Paraguay international, and because he has joined Newcastle for a sizeable fee which could reach £20million following add-ons. Almiron requires a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the Football Association (FA) to be sent to the Home Office before he can be granted a work permit, and every indication from London is that he will have no issues being granted one due to his 12 international caps, the large transfer fee he has commanded, and the significant wage packet he is on. Yet it is understood that the 24-year-old must travel to the Continent in order to acquire his European Union (EU) right-to-work permit before he can even start training formally with his new Newcastle team-mates, which is why he cannot feature on Saturday. As a result, Almiron is not expected to take part in first-team sessions until early next week once he has arrived back with his visa and is able to train with Rafa Benitez's men. Although Almiron is ineligible to play against Spurs, new loan signing Antonio Barreca is available to feature at Wembley. Given that the 23-year-old is Italian, he has an automatic right to work in the UK because he is an EU citizen - and, as he has been registered with the Premier League already, he could feature this weekend. Whether Benitez opts to include the left-back in his matchday squad for Spurs remains to be seen, though, with the United manager often reluctant to use players who have barely trained with the first team, and Barreca was only confirmed as a Magpie on deadline day. But, unlike Almiron, Barreca is eligible to play this weekend if he is called into the squad by Benitez.<doc-sep>Rafa Benitez 'happier' at Newcastle after Almiron signing HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Almiron became Newcastle’s record signing when the Magpies bought him on transfer deadline day for £20million. The playmaker was signed from MLS side Atlanta United having shone across the Atlantic. However he won’t be stepping out onto the Wembley pitch as Newcastle look for another win. Rafael Benitez’s side beat reigning Premier League champions Manchester City 2-1 in midweek. Almiron won’t feature against Spurs as he is still awaiting his visa, allowing him to work in the United Kingdom. It’s expected that he will have his paperwork sorted in time for Newcastle’s next game at Wolves on Monday February 11. The Paraguay star will have to wait until February 23 to make his home debut when Newcastle host Huddersfield. Although Almiron is ineligible to play against Tottenham, new loan signing Antonio Barreca is available to feature and is on the bench. Miguel Almiron has become Newcastle's record-breaking signing Miguel Almiron: Why is Newcastle star not in squad vs Tottenham? Reason revealed Almiron’s agent Daniel Campos has claimed that his client had interested a number of other Premier League teams. "There were four other teams in the Premier League that were interested in Miguel,” he said. "For different reasons, nothing was settled. "I know Rafael Benitez and he had been following Miguel for quite some time." Rafael Benitez's Newcastle take on Tottenham without new signing Miguel Almiron<doc-sep>
Elsa/Getty Images Newcastle United have signed Atlanta United star Miguel Almiron on a five-and-a-half-year deal. The Magpies announced the capture of the Paraguay international on Thursday: The attacking midfielder said one of the key reasons he opted for the move to Newcastle was to work under manager Rafael Benitez, per the club statement: "I'm very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team-mates. 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." Per BBC Sport, Almiron has joined for a club-record fee of around £20 million, surpassing the £16 million the club paid for Michael Owen's move from Real Madrid in 2005. The 24-year-old has arrived after two successful seasons in Major League Soccer, which culminated in him playing a key role for Atlanta as they won the MLS Cup for the first time in 2018. OptaJoe provided his impressive numbers last season: Video Play Button Videos you might like Almiron was named in MLS' Best XI and All-Star sides in both campaigns and was also named MLS' Newcomer of the Year in 2017 following his arrival from Argentinian outfit Lanus. Roberto Rojas of the Low Limit Futbol podcast and Atlanta United reporter Doug Roberson gave some insight as to what Newcastle fans can expect from their new signing: His arrival should serve as a major boost for the Toon, who have spent the season once again battling against relegation. Newcastle have scored just 21 goals from 24 Premier League matches this season, and they've only managed three in a single league game once. Only Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City have netted fewer. The Premier League will be a step up for Almiron, but if he can find his feet quickly, he could provide the creative and goalscoring spark the Magpies need to secure survival.