SUNDERLAND defender Lamine Kone has signed a new five-year contract with the club.
The deal commits the 27-year-old Ivory Coast international to the Stadium of Light until 2021.
Kone joined Sunderland in January, after completing a move from French side Lorient, and has since become an integral part of the Black Cats side.
He came close to joining Everton in the summer, with Sunderland turning down two bids, the second of which was worth around £22m.
Sunderland manager David Moyes said: "Lamine is an important player for this club and I made that clear to him from the outset.
"He has only been playing in the Premier League since January, but in that time we have already seen what he is capable of.
"The challenge for Lamine now is to build on what has been a very positive introduction to English football and to continue to improve and grow as a player."
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