ALAN SHEARER was today set to join Newcastle United in a world record £15 million transfer.

The sensational deal, which eclipses the previous soccer transfer record of £13 million, was finally clinched by Kevin Keegan's Newcastle last night.

It left Blackburn Rovers' owner Jack Walker "absolutely devastated" and officials and supporters "gutted".

Manchester United had been chasing the Premier League's top marksman all summer and top foreign clubs had long been interested in England's hero of Euro 96.

But even Mr Walker's mega millions couldn't change Shearer's decision to join the club he has supported since boyhood.

See sports web pages

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.