Crewe Alexandra have signed Newcastle United midfielder Bradden Inman on a three-year deal.

The 21-year-old, who still had a year left on his contract at Newcastle, has moved to the League One club for an undisclosed fee.

The Australian has agreed a contract that will keep him at Gresty Road until 2015.

"Not many players turn down a Premier League club to drop down to League One. It takes a lot of guts," Crewe manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He has the potential to develop into a very good player and I think will prove a great signing for the club.

"We've worked very hard on trying to bring Brad into the club. It has been complicated with the negotiations and a long drawn-out process but Brad wanted to come here and we wanted him here, so we did we all could and had to remain patient."

Inman scored eight goals in 26 appearances for Crewe during a loan spell last season.