Newcastle have completed the signing of Mark Viduka on a two-year contract with the option of a third year.
The 31-year-old turned down a new contract offered by Middlesbrough in favour a move to St James Park.
“I’m over the moon – the main thing that attracted me to the club was that it is moving in the right direction,” Viduka told the club’s official website.
“Manager Sam Allardyce has come in and if we can get success then it will be something special.”
Viduka, who is set to line up with England striker Michael Owen at St James’ Park, was signed by Middlesbrough from Leeds in July 2004.
Meanwhile, Allardyce has confirmed that he is hoping to sign out-of-contract defender Tal Ben Haim from his former club Bolton.
“Yes, I’m interested in Tal Ben Haim. He is a free agent and is hopefully available,” he said.
“He has got three or four years of experience in the Premiership and I know him inside out.
“We had a good working relationship, we grew in the Premiership together and I’m very interested in working with him again.”
