Newcastle United have landed French forward Emmanuel Riviere from Monaco on a “long-term contract”.

Reports suggests the ‘Magpies’ have paid the principality club about £5m but Newcastle have yet to release the actual figure.

“This is an important signing because the striking area is one we really had to improve,” said manager Alan Pardew.

“We have looked at Emmanuel for a while and we know he will score for us.

Riviere, 24, a former tea-mate of Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko at Toulouse in 2011, joined the then-Ligue 2 Monaco in January 2013 and helped them clinch the Second Division title.

The Martinique-born France U-21 player scored 13 goals in 36 matches last season, as Monaco finished runners-up in the French League.

He had been under contract at Monaco until 2017, but says he is “happy” playing for a Premier League club.

“When the club spoke to me I said yes immediately. It was an easy decision,” said Riviere.

“My dream was always to play in the Premier League and Newcastle have given me the opportunity.”

He becomes Pardew’s fifth signing of the summer, following the arrival of Remy Cabella, Ayoze Perez, Jack Colback and Siem de Jong.