United States defender/midfielder DeAndre Yedlin has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur.
Yedlin completed the move on Deadline Day to draw a long-running quest to obtain his services to a close. Several European sides expressed interest in a potential loan move for the former Seattle Sounders fullback, but the close of many transfer windows across the continent yesterday restricted his options.
Sunderland eventually emerged from the pack and sorted out the finer details of his temporary switch on Tuesday. The move provides Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat with a versatile, speedy option at right back, right wingback or right midfield as the Black Cats attempt to improve after their poor start to the campaign.
“I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to play for a club with such great history," Yedlin said in a club statement. "I’ve heard fantastic things about Sunderland and the supporters from Claudio Reyna and Jozy Altidore. Claudio speaks very highly of Dick Advocaat from his time at Rangers.”
The loan deal offers Yedlin a chance to establish himself as a Premier League player after he failed to carve out a place in the Spurs squad this summer.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino preferred Kyle Walker at right back last season and then signed former Burnley defender Kieran Trippier as additional cover in that position this summer.
Yedlin appeared once off the bench for Spurs last season and trained with the club ahead of the start of the Premier League campaign, but the 22-year-old defender eventually opted to make this temporary switch to improve his chances of first-team football.
It is a switch that offers Yedlin a clearer path to the first-team, though he must prove his worth when given the opportunity. Billy Jones has started all four Premier League matches in that spot, but the Black Cats have struggled defensively for most of the season.
Advocaat continues to chop and change along his back four in a bid to locate the necessary solidity. Yedlin supplies some desperately needed pace among his options in defense.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann included Yedlin in his 24-man squad to face Peru and Brazil during this international window. Yedlin is expected to remain with his international teammates and stake his claim for playing time against Peru on Friday (live, 7:00p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports Go).
