Newcastle United will today unveil Michael Owen to their jubilant fans after pulling off the transfer shock of the season.
On a day of high drama at St James's Park, United also closed in on the signing of former Magpies favourite Nolberto Solano while midfielder Jermaine Jenas looked likely to move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Hundreds of supporters gathered at St James's Park minutes after Owen's transfer was announced yesterday, with fans queuing to buy replica shirts bearing Owen's name.
The signing - which comes with Newcastle second bottom of the Premiership and the only team in England not to score this season - was hailed as a personal triumph for United chairman Freddie Shepherd.
But it shocked most footballing observers, who had believed Owen would return to his first club Liverpool if he left Real Madrid.
Owen's decision to move to Tyneside comes after he travelled to the North-East for talks with Shepherd, Newcastle manager Graeme Souness and former international team-mate Alan Shearer.
But it represents a major change of heart from the player, who had said he would only come to Newcastle if a move to Liverpool did not come off, and only then on loan.
Announcing the transfer yesterday morning, Freddie Shepherd said: "Bringing Michael to St James's Park will rank alongside the signing of Alan Shearer as my proudest moment at Newcastle United.
"Newcastle fans love centre-forwards and Michael is a fantastic goalscorer. He's someone we would love to build the team around and we hope he can help us bring success to the club."
Supporters who waited hours at St James's Park yesterday hoping for a glimpse of the new Newcastle hero were disappointed, with Owen having his medical elsewhere.
But he will be unveiled by the club today (WED), with fans allowed into the Sir John Hall stand free of charge from 11.30am to see him on the pitch at around 1pm.
Last night Mark Jensen, editor of the Newcastle fanzine The Mag, said: "I think it's a brilliant signing.
"My first feeling was one of relief because they've failed with so many transfer targets over the summer and there was only a day left before the transfer window closed.
"For the last two years, really, we've been on the slide but having England's centre forward to build the team around isn't a bad start."
Former Newcastle captain Bobby Moncur, who is the last player to lift a trophy for the side, said: "I'm very, very happy. It's an excellent signing. There was always just a little hope it might come off and I think credit has to go to the chairman and the board for hanging on in there."
The transfer comes a year to the day after the sacking of Sir Bobby Robson and marks the end of a turbulent year at St James's.
Many had predicted Graeme Souness could soon follow Sir Bobby after a poor start to the season which has seen Newcastle pick up just one point from four games.
But yesterday Souness was jubilantly celebrating the transfer, saying: "I can understand people who liken it to the signing of Alan Shearer as Michael is the current England number nine.
"I'd say it's the biggest transfer I've been involved in as a manager of any football club."
Steve Wraith, editor of the new Players Incorporated fanzine, said: "There will be a sadness among fans that Jermaine Jenas never fulfilled his early potential.
"But supporters will be really pleased about Owen coming in and the possible return of Solano. He should never have been allowed to leave in the first place, but he will create the kind of chances that Owen and Shearer will thrive on."
