Bournemouth Seal Club-Record Transfer For Jefferson Lerma

Bournemouth have sealed the club-record transfer of Colombian international midfielder Jefferson Lerma from Spanish La Liga outfit Levante.

Lerma, 23, joins the South Coast side from Levante after putting pen to paper on a five-year contract in a £25m deal.

The amount surpasses the £20m transfer fee the club paid Chelsea for the services of Dutch defender Nathan Ake.

He becomes the Premier League club’s third signing of the summer after David Brooks joined from Championship side Sheffield United and Diego Rico from Leganes.

Jefferson Lerma was one of the standout performers for Colombia as they crashed out to England on penalties in the second round of the recently concluded FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.

On his new move, Lerma told the club’s website that: “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.”

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe added: “Jefferson is an extremely talented player and a very good athlete who will bring a different type of play to our midfield.”