JOEL LYNCH has become Sunderland’s sixth summer signing after penning a one-year deal.

The defender’s arrival looks set to signal the end of Jack Baldwin’s time on Wearside, with Jack Ross admitting last week the centre-half needed to be playing regular football.

And with Lynch signing after he left QPR at the end of last season, Baldwin’s chances are further reduced.

Lynch has played for Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town, making over 200 Championship appearances.

He told Sunderland’s website: "I’ve known about the deal for a week or so and I’m just delighted to get it all done now.

“I travelled up on Sunday and looked around the place today. It’s an amazing club and I’m just excited to get going because it has everything you need to succeed.”

Jack Ross said: "Joel is an experienced defender with a lot of know-how. He has played the bulk of his career in the Championship and will bring a lot of physicality and strength to our squad.

“It is important to have those attributes as a defender and that was why we wanted to bring him to the club.

“He had interest from elsewhere so we had to patient in getting this deal done, but we feel as though we’ve got someone who will strengthen our squad which is important.”