Moore completes Newcastle move

Australian defender and captain Craig Moore (L) vies Argentine forward Luciano Figueroa with during the 2005 FIFA football Confederations Cup at Frankenstadion in Nuremberg on June 18, 2005. Moore has completed his move to Newcastle on a two-year contract, the English Premiership club announced.

Australian skipper Craig Moore has completed his move to Newcastle on a two-year contract, the English Premiership club announced.

The 29-year-old defender was a free agent after leaving Borussia Monchengladbach after previous spells at Rangers and Crystal Palace.

The player's agent, John Viola, confirmed that the deal would keep Moore at St James' Park until the summer of 2007.

"He's delighted with the move," said Viola.

Moore has passed a medical and will renew his defensive partnership with former Rangers team-mate Jean-Alain Boumsong at Newcastle.

Moore spent 11 seasons at Ibrox, split by a six-month spell with Palace, and joined Monchengladbach in January.

He inherits the number 18 shirt formerly worn by Aaron Hughes, who joined Aston Villa this summer, and although he has been signed too late to play in the Intertoto Cup, should Newcastle turn around a 2-1 deficit and oust Deportivo La Coruna, before winning their final, Moore would be able to play from the first round of the UEFA Cup onwards.

He follows Scott Parker, Emre and Tim Krul into St James' Park this summer, with Newcastle still keen to add at least one striker before the transfer window closes at the end of August.