Sunderland Sign Central Defender Ahead of Premier League Opener

Sunderland have completed the signing of central defender Omar Alderete from La Liga side Getafe for a fee of £10 million. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the deal is now complete with the 28-year-old Paraguay centre-back signing a four-year deal.

The Black Cats have been desperate to add to their central defensive options ahead of the Premier League season, with several targets failing to make the move to Wearside. However, they now have reinforcements in the Paraguay international who currently has 29 senior caps.

Sunderland Sign Central Defender Ahead of Premier League Opener

Romano Confirms Deal

Earlier today, Fabrizio Romano tweeted his famous “Here we go” saying, “Omar Alderete to Sunderland, here we go! Deal sealed with Getafe for £10m fee. Contract until June 2029. All done.”

A seasoned international who has played in two of Europe’s top leagues in the Bundesliga and La Liga, Alderete has impressed at Hertha BSC and Getafe as well as Basel in Switzerland. The centre-back can also play at left-back if required, and this versatility will have been an attraction to the Sunderland recruitment team.

A Signing Sunderland Desperately Needed

Sunderland have been in the market for a centre-back all summer, especially one who is left-footed and comfortable on the ball. At 6ft 2in, Alderete also has a physical presence and is comfortable playing the ball out from the back, attributes that almost all defenders are required to have in modern-day football.

The Black Cats have now spent close to £150 million this summer ahead of their return to the Premier League, and at present, there is no indication that the spending to improve the squad is at an end.

Sunderland kick off their Premier League campaign against West Ham United at a sold-out Stadium of Light this Saturday in what many see as an ideal game to get their first points on the board.