Newcastle United sealed the signing of Vurnon Anita from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, and the 23-year-old is already targeting trophies with his new club.
The Magpies announced the signing of the Dutch international on Thursday for a fee believed to be around £7 million ($11 million). The defensive midfielder, who is also capable of playing as a full-back, penned a five year deal and will wear the No 8 shirt, the club announced.
"I won almost everything in Holland so the step was not difficult to make," Anita told the club's official website. "Now I think we can also win trophies with Newcastle and it's time to do that.
"In the Premier League especially, every game is tough so it can help me also to grow in my skills."
A product of the Amsterdam club's famous academy, Anita lifted the Eredivisie title twice as well as winning the Cutch Cup on three occasions. "They (Ajax) made me who I am right now," the midfielder said. "I've been there 13 years so it was a difficult step, but you know in football that things happen so I'm glad to be here."
Anita admitted he took advice from fellow Dutch international and Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, before deciding to make his move to St James' Park. "He told me to join Newcastle, and said it was a very nice club with great supporters and everything is nice and that he would like me to come here.
"I trust him so I think we can have a nice time here.
"I talked to the manager and the coach and they know that I want to play in a defensive midfield place and that's why they brought me here," he added.
"But I can play at left-back or right-back, so that's also no problem."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said he was delighted to bring in a technically gifted player like Anita. "We are delighted to secure the services of Vurnon," Pardew said.
"He is an exceptionally talented footballer with great technical ability, which is exactly what I'm looking at in a player. And, at 23-years-old, we hope his best years are at Newcastle.
"He has come through the Ajax youth system which is world renowned for bringing up players the right way, and I am sure he will fit seamlessly into the squad of players we have here.
"Vurnon has done his pre-season, and indeed already played one competitive game, so he's up to speed and ready to play when I need him."
