Swansea announce club-record £15.5 mn Borja move

London (AFP) – Spanish striker Borja Baston has joined Swansea City from Atletico Madrid for a club-record fee of 15.5 million pounds ($20.1 million, 18 million euros), the Premier League side announced on Thursday.

The 23-year-old signed a four-year contract after successfully undergoing a medical and will wear the number 10 shirt at the Liberty Stadium.

He eclipses Wilfried Bony as Swansea’s record signing. The Welsh club paid 12 million pounds to sign Bony from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013.

“There is pressure, but it is good pressure,” Borja told the Swansea website.

“I want to repay the transfer fee paid for me with good performances and results. It’s difficult to set a target of goals, but my mantra is take it goal by goal. Hopefully I can score a lot of goals.

“It is the most important decision of my career. I want to settle and spend several years here. I am very happy to be here. I am eager to contribute to the success of the team.”

Borja joins compatriot and fellow striker Fernando Llorente at the Liberty and becomes head coach Francesco Guidolin’s seventh signing of the close season.

He could make his debut in Swansea’s Premier League opener at Burnley on Saturday.

Borja came through the youth system at Atletico, making one first-team appearance in 2010, and has spent time on loan at Murcia, Huesca, Deportivo La Coruna, Real Zaragoza and Eibar.

Capped up to under-19 level, he scored 18 goals for Eibar last season, making him the third-highest Spanish scorer in La Liga.