Newcastle United have completed the signing of Facundo Ferreyra on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk



By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Newcastle United have completed the signing of Facundo Ferreyra from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 23-year-old Argentine striker joins on a season-long loan, with an option to buy at the end of the campaign, and has joined up with Magpies' squad in Germany as they take part in this weekend's Schalke 04 Cup.

Ferreyra came through the ranks at Banfield in his homeland and spent four seasons in the first team before earning a switch to VÃ©lez SÃ¡rsfield in the summer of 2012.

An instant hit at VÃ©lez, he was their top goalscorer and the league's joint leading marksman in his one and only season, netting 17 goals in just 24 games.

That attracted the attention of Shakhtar Donetsk, who signed Ferreyra in July 2013, and he represented the club in the Champions League and Europa League last term, scoring six times.

Ferreyra said: "I am very pleased to sign for Newcastle United.

"I like the Premier League and when I knew that Newcastle were interested in me, it was a very easy decision to make.

"I spoke to my friend Fabricio Coloccini, and when he told me about the Club, I didn't need to think twice."

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said: "Facundo is someone we know on a number of levels, including his friendship with Fabricio (Coloccini), and we think he could be a big success here at Newcastle.

"This is a player who has played at the top level and is highly-regarded in Argentina.

"He has tremendous potential and hopefully he can realise that here at Newcastle United."

Stay tuned to nufc.co.uk throughout the day for an exclusive nufcTV interview with Ferreyra, along with the thoughts of manager Alan Pardew on his new signing.