SUNDERLAND have completed their first signing of the summer after agreeing a deal for Turkish defender Alim Ozturk.

Ozturk is a free agent after recently leaving Turkish side Boluspor, and will officially join the Black Cats on July 1 on a two-year deal.

The centre-half is a former Turkish Under-21 international who was born in Holland, and began his career with Dutch club SC Cambuur before moving to Trabzonspor.

The 25-year-old then joined Scottish side Hearts, spending three years at Tynecastle, during which time he was appointed captain.

He returned to Turkish football in January 2017, signing an 18-month deal with Boluspor.

"He is someone who I know," said Sunderland boss Jack Ross. "I worked with him a few years ago at Hearts. He is a player who is yet to reach his full potential but this opportunity here gives him the chance to do that.

"He is a really good player and he will be able to cope with the physical demands of this league. He is really comfortable on the ball and I think the supporters will see that.

"He is excited by the opportunity to come here and he wants to do well so that fits perfectly in to what we are trying to do here moving forward."