Newcastle have announced the signing of Florian Thauvin from Marseille on a five-year contract.
Thauvin, 22, was identified as a potential signing by chief scout Graham Carr more than two years ago and the club has been monitoring his situation since.
The winger, whose transfer is worth a reported £12 million, made his professional debut for Grenoble in March 2011 before signing for Bastia and is Newcastle's fifth signing of the summer.
IT'S OFFICIAL! @FlorianThauvin has signed for Newcastle United! #NUFC pic.twitter.com/VgnjABvmNe
- Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 19, 2015
"I am delighted to be a Newcastle United player," said Thauvin. "I have come from France to a really big club and am very happy to be here.
"It is a big honour to know that Newcastle have been after me for such a long time and that they wanted me that much. They have put their trust in me and I am looking forward to playing for the team."
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren also revealed his delight at landing the winger.
He told the club's official website: "Florian is a player the club have been watching for a long time and I am delighted that we have been able to sign him. He is a perfect signing for this club - someone who is young, with great potential and is one of the best young players in Europe.
"He is an exciting, creative talent who can score goals and make assists, and we believe he will have a very bright future at Newcastle."
Newcastle turned to Thauvin in a bid to inject pace and invention into the team and create a fresh supply line for strikers Papiss Cisse and Aleksandar Mitrovic, as well as attacking midfielders Georginio Wijnaldum, Moussa Sissoko and, when he is fit, Siem de Jong.
He moved to Lille in January 2013 and returned to Bastia on loan for six months before moving to Marseille, where he made 81 appearances over the last two seasons, scoring 15 goals.
The highly-rated international has represented France at under-18, U19, U20 and U21 competition, and was a key part of France's 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup team.
Newcastle midfielder Remy Cabella has gone to Marseille on a season-long loan as part of the deal.