<
>

Swansea signing Borja Baston plans to honour 'Van Baston' nickname

Record Swansea signing Borja Baston plans to live up to his nickname and deliver Premier League goals after completing his £15.5 million transfer from Atletico Madrid.

The 23-year-old has been dubbed "Van Baston" in his Spanish homeland, with successful loan spells at Real Zaragoza and Eibar in the last two seasons producing more than 40 goals.

And now Borja hopes the comparisons with former AC Milan and Holland striking great Marco van Basten keep on coming.

"It started when I was at Zaragoza and Deportivo,'' Borja said.

"Scoring a lot of goals it was a natural comparison.

"He was a player I admired hugely, he was a great player who scored many goals.

"I hope that maybe I can score many too at Swansea.''

Borja says there was interest in him from throughout Europe after his goalscoring exploits at Eibar last term.

The former Spain under-19 international scored 18 times in 36 La Liga appearances and says he had options in Germany, Italy and Spain as well as other Premier League clubs.

But he said he chose Swansea after being aware of their interest in him for some time.

"Swansea had been after me for a while but it was a case of sorting things out,'' said Borja.

"Then it happened quite quickly, it was an easy decision.

"Atletico are a big club but they couldn't give me the opportunities to play. This is why I wanted to come.

"I was at Atletico as a 4-year-old. When I joined I was full of hope, but they didn't give me the opportunity so that is why I am here.

"I am really looking forward to starting here and doing good things.

"I knew a lot of Spaniards play here and the club have done great things, so I knew it could be a good move.''

Borja is the second Spanish striker to sign for Swansea this summer following the arrival of World Cup winner Fernando Llorente from Sevilla.

And he believes that the 31-year-old's experience will be hugely beneficial to him in South Wales.

"I've spoken to him already and I feel we can work very well together,'' said Borja.

"In Spain I have seen him have a lot of success and good seasons.

"The last year I played with similar type of players, it is a conversation about how we can play together. But it is the manager who makes the decisions.

"I am just pleased to be here. It's a good pressure, it's no problem.

"I know it's a record fee but it's okay.''

The fee, indeed, exceeds the £12m Swansea paid for Wilfried Bony in the summer of 2013.

But manager Francesco Guidolin said: "Borja is a young player, but I think he's very good.

"The time is for him, the future is in his hands because he is a talented player. He is a striker who is here to help us to improve every week, and for him it is to have the possibility to play.

"I am happy to have him as one of our players and I think he will be [worth] the price.

"Players are very expensive but it is a good signing because, as I have said, he is young. I think it is a good deal for us.''