SUNDERLAND have completed the loan signing of Everton striker Ellis Simms.

The 21-year-old has signed a season-long loan deal at the Stadium of Light, and is available to make his Black Cats debut in Sunday's Championship season-opener against Coventry City.

Simms has previously spent time on loan at both Blackpool and Hearts, and turned down offers from both clubs in order to move to Wearside.

"It feels great to be here," said the striker, who will hope to emulate his Everton team-mate Nathan Broadhead, who had a successful loan spell with Sunderland last season. "It’s such a massive club and I can’t wait to get started.

"As soon as Sunderland showed an interest, I knew this this would be a great environment for me to continue my development and a great platform to show what I can do. I’ve played in League One and the SPL, so this is the next step for me and I feel I’m ready for the Championship."

Simms spent time within Blackburn Rovers in Manchester City’s academies prior to joining Everton in 2017, and enjoyed a stunning 2018-19 campaign with the Under-18s in which he scored 37 goals in 29 games.

He scored nine times in 19 games for the Under-23s in the following campaign, and netted ten goals during a loan spell with Blackpool in League One in 2020-21, playing alongside Daniel Ballard and Elliot Embleton as the Tangerines won promotion.

"To have Ellis in the building (ahead of the first game) is great," said Sunderland head coach Alex Neil. "He will complement Ross Stewart, but equally he will provide competition and he joins following two really good loan spells at Blackpool and Hearts.

"He’s a big lad, who is direct, quick and mobile - and he’s been a serial goalscorer. There’s been a lot of Championship interest in Ellis, but we have managed to secure his signature and we are delighted to get the deal across the line."