Eddie Howe has been named as the new head coach of Newcastle United on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Howe emerged the frontrunner for the position after Unai Emery turned down the opportunity to replace sacked Steve Bruce at the Premier League side.

Howe who watched Newcastle’s 1-1 draw at Brighton alongside co-owner Amanda Staveley on Saturday, becomes Newcastle’s first permanent manager following a £305 million Saudi-backed takeover.

The 43-year-old Englishman has been out of work since he left Bournemouth by mutual consent after their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2019-20 season.

Howe said: “It is a great honour to become head coach of a club with the stature and history of Newcastle United. It is a very proud day for me and my family.

“This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get onto the training ground to start working with the players.

“I would like to thank the club’s owners for this opportunity and thank the club’s supporters for the incredible welcome they have already given me. I am very excited to begin our journey together.”

Newcastle’s co-owner, Amanda Staveley said: “We have been incredibly impressed by Eddie through what has been a rigorous recruitment process.

“As well as his obvious achievements with Bournemouth, where he had a transformational impact, he is a passionate and dynamic coach who has clear ideas about taking this team and club forward.

“He is a great fit for what we are trying to build here. We are delighted to welcome Eddie and his staff to St. James’ Park and very much look forward to working together towards our collective ambitions.”

Howe’s former assistants Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone are set to join his backroom team, with existing staff member Graeme Jones likely to remain part of the set-up.

Jones, previously Bruce’s assistant head coach, was placed in interim charge, with the club drawing with Crystal Palace and losing to Chelsea under his stewardship.

Howe has previously worked with current Newcastle players Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser while Bournemouth boss.