The 20-year-old midfielder has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light and becomes the club’s third summer signing following the arrivals of Enzo Le Fée and Habib Diarra. The fee was announced as undisclosed but is understood to be worth up to £17.5million, with £15million paid up front.

It is being widely reported in both Belgium and England that Sunderland are closing in on adding Noah Sadiki. The Congolese midfielder is set to swap Union St Gilloise for the newly promoted Black

Sunderland have smashed their club-record transfer fee to sign Habib Diarra – who Leeds wanted at Elland Road – in a £30m deal. Leeds also bid for Noah Sadiki, although Sunderland have now agreed a £17.8m fee with Union Saint-Gilloise for the Belgian.