Newcastle bag Bigirimana

Newcastle have completed the signing of midfielder Gael Bigirimana from Coventry on a five-year deal.

Midfielder signs five-year deal with Toon

Newcastle have completed the signing of midfielder Gael Bigirimana from Coventry on a five-year deal. As exclusively revealed by skysports.com, Bigirimana underwent a medical at St James' Park on Friday after Newcastle agreed a fee with Coventry for the midfielder's signature. Coventry were reluctant to lose Bigirimana, but they could not stand in his way due to their financial problems and their relegation from the Championship last season. Bigirimana caught the eye at Coventry last season and he was named as the Championship's Apprentice of the Year award for 2012. The 18-year-old has been tipped for a big future and Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has moved quickly to fend off interest from other clubs to lure him Tyneside. Burundi-born Bigirimana becomes Newcastle second signing of the summer following the arrival of Romain Amalfitano.