IT WAS one defender in and one defender out as Sunderland allowed Santiago Vergini to leave the club, while sealing the signing of Younes Kaboul.

Sunderland moved quick to switch targets after the Nicolas Lombaerts deal collapsed earlier in the week, with the 29-year-old Kaboul fitting the club’s blueprint for players with Premier League experience.

Kaboul said: “I’m delighted to be a Sunderland player and it’s an honour to join this club.”

“I would like to thank Lee Congerton and the head coach for making this move possible and I can’t wait to start playing for the Sunderland supporters.”

Head coach Dick Advocaat said: “He is a very experienced player, which is what we need. He has shown that in his time at Spurs and he will be a very good addition to our squad.”

The Frenchman, who can play in central defence or at right-back, was on Wearside last night to complete a medical and agreed personal terms with a club that he once ruled out joining seven years ago.

Sunderland had the chance to sign Kaboul in 2008 when Roy Keane brought in Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque from Tottenham, but Kaboul would not follow, with his agent suggesting: “Younes wouldn’t join Sunderland even if there was an earthquake.”

Kaboul went on to join Pompey under Harry Redknapp, who signed him for Spurs in 2010 for £9.5m.

He made 89 appearances in his second spell at White Hart Lane, and joins Sunderland for a reported £4m on a four-year deal.

Vergini, meanwhile, joins La Liga side Getafe on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old Argentinian international joined Sunderland in 2014 on loan before making the deal permanent, and made 51 appearances.

He was a regular starter under former head coach Gus Poyet but lost his place soon after Dick Advocaat arrived towards the end of last season, with the Dutchman preferring Sebastian Coates to the often error-prone Vergini.

He was left out of Sunderland’s tour of North America and reportedly left the Under-21’s pre-season friendly at Consett this week shortly before kick-off in a taxi.