Emmanuel Eboue signs with Sunderland until end of season

Former Arsenal full-back Emmanuel Eboue has joined Premier League strugglers Sunderland for the rest of the season, the Black Cats announced Wednesday.

The 32-year-old former Ivory Coast international, who was released by Turkish club Galatasaray in pre-season, was taken on by north-east club Sunderland after training with Sam Allardyce’s squad for several weeks.

Last week Allardyce was optimistic of concluding a deal and said he hoped Eboue could show the form he displayed in six-and-a-half seasons with Arsenal as Sunderland try to avoid relegation.

“It would be wrong of me to turn down a player with such great experience of the Premier League, Champions League, international football, not to think that he could play a part for us in our fight against relegation this season,” Allardyce said at the time.

“He’s a terrific guy, a very, very good talker as well as a good player. Hopefully when the test comes, he is fit enough to cope.”

Sunderland, who are currently just a point above the bottom three, do not play competitively again until they visit fellow relegation candidates and local rivals Newcastle on March 20.