MATT Ritchie has ended his three-and-a-half year spell at Cherries by joining Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United revolution.

The Gosport-born winger today put the finishing touches to his switch to St James's Park for a reported £12million, signing a five-year deal.

The fee smashed the record received by Cherries for a player who joined from Swindon Town for £500,000.

Ritchie joins fellow new recruits Dwight Gayle and Matz Sels at the Championship side.

There had been speculation West Ham had returned with a second bid for the 26-year-old Ritchie with a value of up to £10million.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe admitted previously the Hammers had made an "unwanted" bid for Ritchie and striker Callum Wilson, understood to be around £20million.