The 21-year-old, who has signed a five-year deal with the Premier League club, became Sam Allardyce's seventh pre-season signing.

Enrique, who will wear the number three shirt at St James' Park, said: "I believe very much in the manager at Newcastle United and I believe they are going to be one of the top teams."

He also told Newcastle's official website: "I met Sam for dinner and I was very happy to listen to his plans.

"He treated me very well and he understands me. He knows I have to get used to a lot of new things, like changes in culture and language, but he says he is going to help me adapt to that.

"I know Newcastle already have players with a lot of character and players who are used to winning many things and playing in Europe like Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Obafemi Martins.

"It will also help me to have people like Nolberto Solano and Albert Luque to speak to. Albert says he is going to take care of me at Newcastle."

Enrique joined Viduka, Joey Barton, David Rozehnal, Geremi, Smith and Claudio Cacapa as a player at north-east side Newcastle.

Meanwhile Kieron Dyer could yet move to West Ham even though the east London club say they will not move from their 6 million pounds valuation of the England defender.

Dyer had been on the point after the clubs agreed a fee of 5 million pounds up front plus a further 1 million pounds depending on appearances.

Newcastle then decided they had under-valued the player and demanded a further 2 million pounds causing West Ham to pull out.

But the Hammers may be willing to pay 6 million pounds up front to revive the deal.

"In the end, we decided he was under-valued," said Allardyce of Dyer.

"We escalated the valuation to what we thought was realistic and West Ham did not want to roll with it. Kieron is back with us, a top player with a squad who are growing.

"Will it be difficult for Kieron? It's life, isn't it? He has got a contract. You sign it. The length of the contract means you are employed by an employer, something happens, it doesn't work, you come back and get on with it," he added.

"If anything else happens in terms of West Ham increasing their offer, then great. If they don't then clearly they don't value him as highly as we do."