Kluivert's European goal

Patrick Kluivert completed his dream move to Newcastle and then vowed to fire them back into the Champions League.

The 28-year-old Dutchman signed a three-year deal after flying into Tyneside this morning as the Magpies pushed through a quickfire signing which manager Bobby Robson likened to their £15m (€22.5m) capture of Alan Shearer.

Shearer signed a new permanent deal at a time when it was thought he would initially spend 12 months on loan at St James’ Park.

Kluivert, who will wear the number 11 shirt vacated by Gary Speed – whose £750,000 (€1.1m) move to Bolton went through earlier today – was delighted to have finally secured a move to the Barclays Premiership.

He said: “It feels really good. It’s a dream come true.

“I always wanted to come to a top club in England and today is the day.

“If you are a striker, it gives you a good feeling if you can play alongside Alan Shearer.

“He’s a striker with a lot of experience and you can learn very many things from him.

“Last year, Newcastle ended fifth, and the most important thing is to bring the club a little bit higher if it’s possible – and I think we can do well also in the Champions League.”

Kluivert’s relationship with former club Barcelona soured and he found himself confined to the bench for Holland’s Euro 2004 campaign.

However, he has scored 133 goals in 278 appearances in club football for Ajax, AC Milan and Barca and an impressive 40 in 79 games for his country.

However, he will need to prove quickly that he still has what it takes to make his mark in England.

The Dutchman continued: “The last year at Barcelona wasn’t a top year, but that was because I had an injury and lost my position.

“But now I’m 100% and that’s a different thing.

“If you’re a striker with the status I have, it’s normal that the pressure is like this.”

Hundreds of delighted fans gathered at St James’ this afternoon to welcome Kluivert – rather like they did when compatriot Ruud Gullit arrived as manager six years ago.

Robson said: “We’re just delighted that Patrick has decided to join us.

“I think he will be one of the most significant signings that Newcastle have made for many, many years.

“My gut reaction is that’s it’s very similar to the feeling that was in the city when the club decided to bring Alan Shearer back home.

“In a way, he’s similar to Alan, but in other ways, he’s dissimilar to Alan. But we know he’s a big player and I just think it’s a great catch.

“To acquire a player of Patrick’s ability at his age and his experience – and we haven’t paid £25m (€37.5m) or £10m (€15m) and all the dazzling figures that we see being bandied about for strikers at the moment. We’ve been very clever, very frugal in our dealings.

“He’s not cheap. He’s not for nothing, but we’re very happy with the deal and we know it will be great value for the club, and that’s all we can think about.”

Kluivert became United’s second summer capture after teenager midfielder James Milner, and added further firepower to a squad already containing Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Shola Ameobi.

Robson knows he will have a tough job to keep all his strikers happy – Shearer has already said he hopes to play in every game – but is delighted with the men at his disposal.

He added: “They’re all happy to be at Newcastle and all we want is for players to be happy at Newcastle.

“You get injuries. You get many matches. You’re playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Sunday. You’re going all the time.

“It’s very difficult for players to play all the time every game. We ask too much of players all the time.

“But it does give me, with illness and suspension and injuries, a choice of what to do as the big games come thick, fast and heavy.”