Newcastle, England – Newcastle signed Netherlands midfielder Vurnon Anita on an undisclosed fee from Ajax on a five-year contract Thursday.
Anita, 23, joined Ajax's youth academy in 1999 and debuted for the senior team in 2006. He played in the season opener for Ajax last weekend, the last of his 109 league appearances for the club.
"We are delighted to secure the services of Vurnon," said Newcastle coach Alan Pardew. "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."
Anita, who can also play fullback, has three caps for the Netherlands.
Newcastle, which was fifth in the Premier League last season, hosts Tottenham on Saturday to open the 2012-13 season.
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