Wednesday 27 January 2016 21:53, UK
Sunderland have signed Ivory Coast defender Lamine Kone from Lorient for a fee Sky Sports News HQ understands to be £5m.
The Black Cats had been linked with a move for the 27-year-old centre-back during the transfer window but the proposed move has twice stalled.
However, Manager Sam Allardyce has now got his man with Kone signing a contract until 2020 to join Jan Kirchhoff, Dame N'Doye and Steve Harper in making the move to the Stadium of Light.
"Strengthening our defensive options was a priority for us and Lamine is a player that has impressed me when I've seen him play," Allardyce told the club's official website.
"He is big and strong, attributes you need to play in central defence in the Premier League, and his arrival will give us healthy competition for places in a key position."
Kone has been handed the No 23 shirt.
