Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gabonese international midfield dynamo Didier Ndong signed for Premier League side Sunderland from French outfit Lorient on Wednesday for a club record fee of £13.6 million (16 million euros, $17.8m).
The 22-year-old — capped 18 times since making his debut in 2012 — signed a five-year contract with the ‘Black Cats’, ending a stay of just under two years with Lorient where he scored twice in 46 appearances.
His disciplinary record may be a cause for concern for Sunderland manager David Moyes as he accrued 11 yellow cards last season and he had already been sent off once in the present Ligue 1 campaign.
“I am very proud and happy to sign for Sunderland,” said Ndong, who cost Lorient just a million euros when they signed him.
“This is a new adventure for me and to play in the Premier League is a dream come true.
“Maybe the Sunderland fans don’t know me yet, but I promise that they will quickly discover that I will give everything for them and the club.
“It will be an honour to wear the Sunderland shirt and I will wear it with a true understanding of what it means.
“Today is the most beautiful day of my life.”
Ndong, who began his professional career with Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, is Moyes’ seventh signing since he replaced Sam Allardyce when he was appointed England boss.
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