Serb star Mitrovic secures permanent move to Fulham

Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. – Photo express.co.uk

LONDON — Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic’s pivotal role to Fulham’s return to the Premier League earned him a permanent move from rivals Newcastle on Monday and he declared himself "happy to the moon and back".

The  二 三-year-old - who scored  一 二 goals in  一 七 appearances for the Cottagers after joining them on loan in January -- cost a reported £ 二 二 million (US$ 二 八. 九 million) and signed a five-year contract.

"I’m very glad and happy and proud to finally be here and officially become a Fulham player. I’m happy to the moon and back,"大众he told Fulhamfctv.

"I have love for the fans. They’re amazing fans and I have a really good connection with them.

"This is a big club and last year we made history, we did big things, and I want to continue this. We want to keep making big things, and with all the fans behind us I think we can go far."

Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan said he is delighted to have secured Mitrovic - who scored  一 七 times for Newcastle in three years -- as he had been a target since his successful stint there.

"He was a hero in our run to promotion, and from the moment he arrived at Motspur and began working with us, we’ve always wanted Mitro on a permanent,"大众said Khan.

"I told him that after the final at Wembley, and I’m thrilled to make it official today."

Mitrovic, who played for Serbia at the World Cup and has  一 七 goals in  四0 international appearances, is the fifth recruit by his fellow Serb and manager Slavisa Jokanovic.

The club spent a reported £ 三 五 million on Ivory Coast star Jean Michael Seri and French team-mate Maxime Le Marchand from Ligue  一 side Nice, while also bringing in Germany’s  二0 一 四 World Cup-winning winger Andre Schuerrle from Borussia Dortmund on loan and buying goalkeeper Fabri from Turkish outfit Besiktas.

Fulham returned to England’s top flight by winning promotion last season via a play-off, after four years in the Championship. — AFP