CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe believes club record signing Jefferson Lerma can bring a "different type of play to our midfield".

The Colombian international today penned a five-year deal with Cherries after they had agreed a fee of £25million with Spanish club Levante. 

Lerma finalised personal terms and passed a medical at Vitality Stadium, the move subject to him receiving international clearance.

La Liga outfit Levante finally agreed to sell Lerma on Saturday when they confirmed they had accepted Cherries' bid, the fee eventually rising to £28m with add-ons.

It is the biggest deal in both clubs' history and eclipses the £20m Cherries paid Chelsea for Nathan Ake last summer.

A long-time target for boss Howe, Lerma’s signing ends a lengthy pursuit by Cherries who tabled a series of bids over the summer.

Howe told the club website: “It’s no secret that Jefferson has been someone we have chased for a while this summer.

“It’s been a complicated deal but I am certain it will be worth all the hard work that people have put in to make this happen.

“Jefferson is an extremely talented player and a very good athlete who will bring a different type of play to our midfield.

“He has a lot of qualities that will be suited to the Premier League and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

Lerma played all four games for Colombia at the World Cup where they eventually went out on penalties to England following a feisty contest in which he was substituted in the second half.

He said: “I’m so happy to be an AFC Bournemouth player. The transfer has been very long because it took a while for the clubs to reach an agreement, but the most important thing is that I am here now and everyone got what they wanted in the end.

“I have always loved the Premier League style of football and am very happy to have this opportunity.

“I am looking forward to success and doing important things for this club.”

Cherries chief executive Neill Blake, who played a key role in getting the deal over the line, said: “I’m delighted that we have finally completed the signing of Jefferson.

“It hasn’t been easy and we have had to be patient but we have got our man and it is a huge statement for this club.

“A new record transfer speaks volumes of the ambition of our owners to continue progressing the club and competing in the Premier League.

“Jefferson will add competition to an already-talented midfield and these are exciting times for AFC Bournemouth.”

Lerma's former club Atletico Huila in Colombia are understood to be entitled to a sizeable sell-on as part of the transfer, believed to be in excess of £3m.

He left Huila for Levante for a fee of around €600,000 in July 2016 following a successful 12-month loan spell in Spain.

Lerma becomes the third addition to the Cherries squad following the arrivals of David Brooks from Sheffield United for £10m and Diego Rico from Leganes for £10.7m.