Newcastle snap up Gosling

The 20-year-old, who is currently ruled out of action for several months with a serious knee injury sustained against Wolves in March, was able to join the newly-promoted Magpies after a legal loophole allowed him to leave Everton in the close-season.

Everton had verbally offered Gosling a new contract, but failed to put it in writing before the May deadline.

An FA tribunal found that Gosling was entitled to leave the club he joined as a 17-year-old for nothing, and Newcastle have swooped in to take full advantage of Everton's administrative error.

Gosling told the Newcastle official website: "I've played at St. James' Park before and know all about the amazing atmosphere. Playing there in a black and white shirt is something I've thought about already and it will be a great day when I finally get to walk out in front of 50,000 people. 

"The gaffer Chris Hughton and all of the lads have been great with me and made me feel really welcome since I arrived and hopefully I can repay the faith that they've shown in me."

Hughton added: "We see him as a high-energy player and a player that can play from box-to-box, but he's also a young player with experience, so he won't be phased by what is ahead of him."

Gosling made his mark at Everton when he scored the extra-time winner in an FA Cup fourth round replay against local rivals Liverpool in 2009, which became infamous after match broadcaster ITV accidentally showed a Tic Tac advert just as the goal went in.

In all, Gosling scored six goals in 37 appearances for Everton, the last of those strikes coming in the 3-1 win over Manchester United last February.

Gosling becomes Newcastle's second signing of the summer, following the capture of full-back James Perch from Nottingham Forest.