Midfielder Mikel Merino has joined Newcastle United for a fee of £7million, according to a reliable journalist.
Sky Sports’ north-east correspondent Keith Downie reported on his personal Twitter account on Friday the sum the club will pay to Borussia Dortmund after converting his loan into a permanent transfer.
Think it’s in the region of £7m. https://t.co/DL2FmvGoqz
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) October 13, 2017
The Magpies confirmed that they had secured the 21-year-old on a five-year deal on both their official Twitter account and official website, but there was no mention of the fee involved.
BREAKING: He's staying!
We've activated an option to buy @mikelmerino1, meaning he completes a permanent move with immediate effect. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/kacz9PxNcY
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 13, 2017
Dortmund announced on their official website that that Merino needed to make just seven appearances for Newcastle United for the deal to go through.
He has appeared in all of the club’s league games this season, having appeared just nine times in the entirety of his career at Dortmund.
OPINION
Everything about the Merino deal just adds up. Not only is he a bona fide top-flight performer, he has also been secured at a bargain price. £7million for a midfielder capable of controlling Premier League matches is super-smart business. His dynamism, vision and energy in the centre of the park have all been key to Newcastle’s fine start to the season and the club deserve credit for landing a potential A-lister so cheaply. Bravo to them.