Sunderland have completed the signing of Ricardo Alvarez on a season-long loan deal from Italian giants Inter Milan.

The 26-year old Argentina international midfielder arrives on Wearside for the 2014/15 campaign, becoming the ninth signing this summer, following Sebastian Coates, Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez, Billy Jones, Costel Pantilimon, Patrick van Aanholt, Santiago Vergini and Will Buckley to the Stadium of Light.

Speaking about his move to Sunderland, Alvarez said: “I’m very happy to be here. It’s a great opportunity, a great club and I’m looking forward to playing in England and playing my part for Sunderland.”

Alvarez was part of the Argentina squad which reached the final of the FIFA 2014 World Cup, with the midfielder featuring for the side in the group stages of the competition.

He began his career in his native Argentina with Buenos Aires based club Velez Sarsfield, before heading to the San Siro in 2011, where he has made over 90 appearances for Inter Milan.