Newcastle United have signed Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez for a fee which could rise to £52m.

The Spaniard has joined the club on a long-term contract after completing his medical on Tyneside.

“I’m really happy to be here at this amazing club,” he said. “I’ve only heard top words about the club and the city, so I’m really excited to live here and to be part of this project.

“I love the black and white shirt already and I can’t wait to start wearing it on the pitch for this club.

“I’ve experienced playing at St. James’ Park twice with Manchester City and it was really tough. The atmosphere was amazing and the fans are so passionate. I can’t wait to experience that as a home player.”

Newcastle have signed players exclusively from the continent up to this point in the window, but the club have recognised the need to add some Premier League experience after losing Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier in recent months.

Gonzalez has only spent a season-and-a-half in the Premier League after signing from Porto, but the 24-year-old fits the age profile Newcastle have been targeting as someone who could still develop further under head coach Matthias Jaissle.

“I’m very happy to see Nico become a Newcastle United player,” Jaissle said. “He brings serious quality and elite experience in a key area of the pitch.

“Nico is a really strong ball carrier – somebody who can drive the team forward while staying composed under pressure. He also brings discipline defensively, he reads the game well and his physicality makes him well suited to the Premier League.

“Nico is a proven winner who has already played at some huge clubs in Europe’s top leagues, but he’s also still young and hungry to develop further. He is a fantastic addition to our squad.”

Gonzalez previously said he “did not want to leave” the Etihad, but Manchester City subsequently agreed an £85.6m deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, having already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m.

Gonzalez was an unused substitute at the weekend as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Bournemouth 2-1 in manager Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League game in charge of the club.

He will become the fourth senior midfielder to leave City this summer after Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders.

Although Newcastle‘s young side came within seconds of defeating Liverpool on the opening weekend, there was always going to be work to do before the window shut on 1 September.

Newcastle have made six signings so far this summer in goalkeepers Lukas Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, defender Amar Dedic, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur and forward Bazoumana Toure.

But Jaissle made it clear that “adjustments need to be done and will be” in an interview with BBC Sport last week.

After reluctantly selling talisman Guimaraes to Arsenal, Gonzalez possesses the qualities Newcastle have been looking for in the middle of the park.

This is a player who would have been potentially out of reach not so long ago.

Of those midfielders who played a minimum of 900 minutes in Europe’s top five leagues last season, Gonzalez led the way for high turnovers per game (2.13).

He also ranked in the Premier League’s top five midfielders for line-breaking passes per match (12).

Those traits – in and out of possession – could make Gonzalez an invaluable addition as he is handed a greater role at St James’ Park.