HIS first taste of English football ended without him playing a single minute, so Newcastle new boy Florian Lejeune is determined to make a success of his second spell in the Premier League.

Lejeune, who completed an £8.7m move from Spanish club Eibar earlier this week, joined Manchester City from Girona two summers ago, only to be immediately loaned back to the club he left to move to England.

While he was officially on Manchester City’s books, the English club’s close relationship with Girona meant he was never intended to form part of Manuel Pellegrini’s squad, indeed with Pep Guardiola’s brother filling a prominent role on Girona’s backroom staff, it has even been suggested Lejeune’s move to England was part of an elaborate ploy to persuade City’s current manager to choose the Etihad.

The upshot was that Lejeune never really felt part of things at City, and when his loan deal at Girona expired, he was immediately sold to Eibar. Twelve months later, and he finds himself settling into life at Newcastle, and while he does not feel he has anything to prove to his former employers in Manchester, he admits he is desperate to make the most of his second chance in England.

“I’m really pleased to be here because it’s what I’ve always wanted,” said Lejeune, who turned 26 last month. “What happened in Manchester City, as far as I’m concerned it never happened, I wasn’t there, I never played there.

“The relationship was a bit complicated so I preferred to leave. It’s over, what happened with Man City is over. I want to concentrate on things here. I have nothing to prove to them – I only have things to prove to the fans here. I will work and work to prove I am worthy of this move.”

Despite their lowly standing, with an average attendance of just over 5,000, Eibar finished tenth in La Liga last season, with Lejeune’s resolute defensive displays playing a key part in their success.

Tough and commanding, but also comfortable in possession, the French centre-half was on the radar of a number of Europe’s leading clubs, but even though his agent had told him to expect interest this summer, he was still surprised to pick up the phone to Rafael Benitez.

“For many years, my career was going up and down, up and down,” he said. “So getting a call from Rafael Benitez was absolutely amazing, and I could only say yes. It was like a dream.

“When I got the call, I thought it was a prank so I didn’t say anything. After a few hours, I said, ‘Yes, that’s really Rafa Benitez’. I was proud that someone like Rafa Benitez, with all his background and winning the Champions League with Liverpool, could ring me to be in his team.”

In the end, persuading Lejeune to move to Newcastle was the easy part of the transfer dealings. Despite the defender having an £8.7m buyout clause in his Eibar contract, discussions dragged on for more than a fortnight as the two clubs haggled over how to structure the deal.

For a while, it looked as though things might collapse, but Lejeune was always determined to force through a move to Tyneside, having grown up watching the Magpies spend a succession of seasons in European competitions.

“It was longer than planned,” he admitted. “It went on and on and on - but that’s what happens between clubs when they have a lot to discuss. But, in my head, I was coming to Newcastle, so I’m pleased I did.

“It feels like a dream to be here. I’m really pleased because it’s what I’ve always wanted. This is a huge club with great supporters and a great coach - everything was perfect for me to come here.”

Lejeune is Newcastle’s second summer signing – Christian Atsu converted his loan move from Chelsea into a permanent transfer shortly after the end of last season – and further additions will follow as Benitez continues to remould his squad.

Nevertheless, with the rest of the Premier League throwing around money as if it is going out of fashion, the Magpies will still kick off next season as a newly-promoted club needing to re-establish themselves in the top-flight.

In leaving Eibar, Lejeune has swapped one of the surprise success stories of Spanish football for a club that has turned instability into an art form. Does he acknowledge an element of risk in his decision?

“No, I don’t see this as a gamble at all,” he insisted. “I don’t see this as a risk. I’m coming to Newcastle, which is a great club. It’s always been a great club. Having Rafa Benitez as a coach too, I'm not taking risks here.

“Newcastle has always been in the Premier League, and has always been a first-class club. What happened last year was just a bit of a hitch. Newcastle are back where they belong now and the objective is to go further and higher up the league.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle have added defensive duo Stefan O’Connor and Josef Yarney to their Under-23 squad. O’Connor, who is 20, was released by Arsenal and has spent time on loan at York City. Yarney, a year younger at 19, is formerly of Everton, and featured for the Toffees in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Vurnon Anita, who was released by Newcastle at the end of last season, is set to sign for Leeds United.