Newcastle have reached an agreement to sign Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock on a six-year contract.

The 21-year-old will not feature in the Magpies’ Premier League home game against West Ham on Sunday, but will be available for the away game at Aston. Villa six days later

The deal exceeds £20m following a successful loan deal last season.

“I’m really excited to be here. I enjoyed my time here last season. And I’m really happy to be back,” Willock said.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said: “I am delighted to keep our number one goal.

“We have to be patient and diligent. But it was worth waiting to bring Joe back.

“You’re going to find a 21-year-old who scores seven goals from a jog. [on loan last season] and where else can you play like him? Fair play for all to succeed.”

England Under-21 international Willock scored eight goals for Newcastle while on loan in the second half of last season, including seven in a row to help take the club out of the fall zone. floor

Bruce admitted that at one point he “didn’t think a deal would happen” after Arsenal once again rejected a loan approach.

But he said the deal was permanent. “It’s good for us” and will improve as they try to finish 12th in the Premier League last season.

“The big thing for us was trying to improve last year,” Bruce added.

“We started well and finished well. But it was a bad winter. We have to be lucky with injuries. And of course with Joe on the team. We view it as a threat. and scoring those goals He has given us something different. and improve us.”

“We try to improve little by little.”