SUNDERLAND have sealed their first signing of the summer as promising centre half Daniel Ballard completes a switch to Wearside from Premier League side Arsenal.

After a deal for an undisclosed fee was agreed with the Gunners, Ballard was at the club's Academy of Light training ground yesterday to complete a medical and put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal at the club.

Ballard, who has never made a first-team appearance at Arsenal despite coming through the academy, joins the club having spent last season on loan with Championship side Millwall. Manager Gary Rowett was keen on re-signing him for next season as he played 33 times for the Lions in a campaign which saw them take their chase for the Championship play-offs to the final day of the season but the Black Cats fought off competition from elsewhere to seal his signature.

The season before, he gained promotion from League One during a loan spell with Blackpool where he started in their Wembley final win over Lincoln City alongside Sunderland midfielder Elliot Embleton, who was also on loan with the Tangerines.

Whilst the Black Cats have renewed the contracts of Lynden Gooch, Patrick Roberts and Bailey Wright, Ballard becomes their first signing of the summer transfer window with the 22-year-old adding another option to their thin defensive ranks following the departures of Callum Doyle and Arbenit Xhemajli. He will now compete with Wright and Danny Batth for a place at centre half.

The Northern Ireland international, who has 15 caps and two goals to his name, is expected to link up with the squad and head out on their pre-season camp in Portugal, which they expect to travel to next week.

Ballard said: "It feels amazing to be here and I’m extremely happy. The fan base and size of this football club speaks for itself and having been up here to have a look around, it feels like an exciting place to be.

"Supporters can expect to see a player who loves defending and tackling – I’m more of a traditional centre half and I want to add those qualities to the team, whilst also bringing something a little extra. I’m now looking to take the next step forward in my career and I believe this is the perfect place to do it.”

A tall centre half who can aerially dominate whilst being comfortable in possession, the expectation is that Ballard will be pushing for a place in the starting eleven at the Stadium of Light next season as he continues to develop his game.

Manager Alex Neil said: “First and foremost, Daniel will add competition. Callum Doyle’s loan deal ended in May and Arby Xhemajli left the club, so we wanted to add in that area and Daniel fits into our structure of being a young, up and coming player who also has Championship experience.

"He fits the bill and he also knows what it takes to win, sampling success with Blackpool in the Play-Offs before having a year under his belt (in the second tier) with Millwall last season. We are really pleased to get this deal over the line.”

The Championship season starts at the end of July for Sunderland who host Coventry City in a lunchtime kick-off at the Stadium of Light.