Venezuela striker Rondon joins Newcastle from West Brom

Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon has joined English football club Newcastle United on a season-long loan deal from West Bromwich Albion.

Newcastle on Tuesday said that Rondon was head coach Rafa Benítez's number one transfer target as the 28-year-old becomes the club's sixth summer signing.

"As part of the deal to secure Rondon, Dwight Gayle moves in the opposite direction and will remain on loan with West Brom for their 2018/19 Championship campaign," the club said in a statement.

Rondon played the past three seasons for West Brom, who were relegated to the second-tier Championship after finishing last in the 2017-2018 English Premier League (EPL) campaign.

"It's an honour to be here and I'm excited to get started with my team mates. The clubs were talking for a long time and now I'm focused on the season to help my team mates to get the points to do well this season," the player was quoted as saying by Newcastle's official website.

"It's one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and I knew about the interest of the coach, so I'm happy to be here."

Rondon, who has scored 19 goals in 66 games for Venezuela, thanked West Brom supporters, writing on Twitter that he will be eternally grateful to the club.

--IANS

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