SUNDERLAND have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Patrick Roberts on a permanent deal.

Roberts joins the Black Cats from Manchester City, having signed an initial six-month contract at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have the option of extending the contract at the end of the current campaign.

Roberts has cut short his previous loan deal at French club Troyes in order to return to England and sign for the Black Cats.

The 24-year-old midfielder initially moved to Ligue 1 on a season-long loan, but managed just one senior appearance in the whole of the first half of the campaign.

He joined Manchester City from Fulham in 2015, and has previously spent time on loan at Celtic, where he won three Scottish Premier League titles, Middlesbrough, where he played an important role in helping the club avoid relegation from the Championship under Neil Warnock, Norwich and Derby.

Roberts, who is available for selection for tomorrow’s home game with Portsmouth, said: “I can’t wait to get going. I came to the game against Sheffield Wednesday a few weeks ago to get a feel for it and it was great to watch – and something that I wanted to be a part of.

“The fans want you to do well and work hard every matchday and that pressure and expectation is something I thrive off. I just want to do well for the people that support me and get Sunderland back to where they belong.”

Sunderland head coach Lee Johnson added: “Patrick is a player that we have always kept our eyes on over the years because he really is a top talent.

“This is an amazing opportunity – for him and the club – to give him the love he requires at a standard whereby we think he can excel and then come with us to the next level.

“He thrives on the big occasion and the beauty of Sunderland is that there is a big occasion every three days. We hope that this is the place he calls home for a number of years.”