NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed the signing of midfielder Mikel Merino from Borussia Dortmund.

Merino, a Spain Under-21 international, has initially joined on a season-long loan, although it is understood the deal contains an obligation for the Magpies to complete a permanent transfer worth around £6m next summer.

Merino is the fifth player to join Newcastle this summer, following Christian Atsu, Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy and Javier Manquillo.

Born in Pamplona, Merino made more than 60 appearances for hometown club Osasuna before moving to Dortmund at the end of the 2015-16 season.

He made nine senior appearances for Dortmund last term, and also featured for Spain at last month's European Under-21 Championship in Poland, where Albert Celades' side were runners-up.

Merino – who turned 21 during the tournament – said: "It feels good and I'm very happy to be here, to be part of this club. I'm looking forward to touching the ball, meeting my new team-mates and starting to play football.

"I know it's a great club and a really nice city. I had different options but I think this is the right place for me to play."

Newcastle boss Rafael Benítez added: "Mikel is a midfielder with talent, an under-21 international for Spain.

"He's a good size, has quality on the ball and he's very, very focused and professional. Hopefully he's the kind of player we can improve a lot - he certainly has the mentality to get better and better.

"He comes from a top side in Dortmund and although he did not play too much last season, he was signed as a young, talented player and to be signed by a club like that shows that he has something good. He has to show what he has, and hopefully he can enjoy playing here for a long time."