Paris swoop to bring in Cabaye from Newcastle

Paris Saint-Germain have captured France midfielder Yohan Cabaye from Newcastle United FC for an initial fee thought to be in the region of €23m.

Cabaye, 28, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Ligue 1 champions after passing a medical on Tuesday morning and could make his debut as early as Friday when Paris host FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

"I was won over by the ambitious project at Paris Saint-Germain and I cannot wait to join this exceptional squad and help the team reach their objectives in France and in Europe," said Cabaye, who has won 26 caps for France. "I am very happy to be back in France. I haven't talked much with Laurent Blanc yet, but today a player cannot turn down a move to PSG. I want to win titles and I didn't hesitate as soon as I had the chance to sign here."

The move ends a two-and-a-half-year spell in north-east England for Cabaye, who joined the Magpies for around €5m from LOSC Lille in summer 2011. He scored 17 goals in 79 Premier League games for the club, none more notable than the winner in December's 1–0 victory at Manchester United FC, Newcastle's first Old Trafford success for 41 years.

Paris are three points clear at the Ligue 1 summit and travel to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie on 18 February.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have announced the loan acquisition of Dutch international striker Luuk de Jong. The 23-year-old joins from VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach until the end of the season, though Newcastle have the option to make the deal permanent in the summer.