Sunderland have completed the signing of winger Bertrand Traoré from Ajax. The deal was confirmed via Sunderland’s official website, safc.com. The deal marks a return to the Premier League for the player who previously played for Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Despite the transfer window closing at 7 pm on Monday, deals can still be confirmed after this, and this is just one of them. 29-year-old Burkina Faso captain, Bertrand Traoré’s move to Sunderland is now a done deal, with the former Chelsea man completing a late deadline day move to Wearside for a fee believed to be €2.5 million. He has signed a one-year deal with an option for a further year.
The winger has played 371 games, scoring 94 goals during his career, which has seen him play at Chelsea, Aston Villa, Ajax, Lyon, and Villarreal.
Following his confirmed move late on deadline day, Bertrand Traoré spoke about his move to Wearside. He said: “I’m really happy to join Sunderland. It’s a huge Club, and for me it feels great to be back in the Premier League.
“I had some good times here before, so it’s special to return, and I can’t wait to get started. From far away, I’ve seen the way the team has started the season, the movements, the atmosphere around the Club – everything looks positive. I’m excited to be part of this project and part of this team.
“It helps as well that I already know a few players, like Simon Adingra, and of course Brian (Brobbey), who also joined today. Having those relationships and my past experiences in England will make it easier to settle quickly. I’m looking forward to stepping out at the Stadium of Light and giving my best for the fans.”
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman added: “As a left-footed player who operates on the right, Bertrand is a different type of player to those we already had in our group. He enjoys eliminating opponents one-on-one, and he can also play in multiple positions, with this added versatility providing us with additional options from game to game and in-game. He featured regularly for Ajax last season, and he’s excited to be back in the Premier League, and we are excited to have him in our squad.”
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