Italy midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini became Sunderland's ninth signing of the close season when the Premier League club agreed a reported £8.5- million deal with Serie A champions Juventus on Tuesday.
.
The fee and personal terms were settled last week but the deal was not finalised until after Giaccherini's wife gave birth to daughter Caterina.
.
Sunderland said on their website (www.safc.com) that he had signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light.
.
The 28-year-old, who has played 14 times for Italy, can be deployed as either an attacking midfielder or a left-winger and is the latest addition to a rapidly changing squad being assembled by new coach, Italian Paolo di Canio.
.
Giaccherini began his career with Cesena and had loan spells with Forli, Bellaria Igea and Pavia.
.
He moved to Juventus in August 2011 and made 40 league appearances for the club, scoring four goals before making the move to Wearside.
.
He is the most expensive Sunderland acquisition so far this summer and follows the arrivals of Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite, Cabral, Jozy Altidore, Vito Mannone, David Moberg Karlsson, El-Hadji Ba and Duncan Watmore.
.
Sunderland are also reported to be close to signing Greek winger Charas Mavrias and Argentinian right- backGino Peruzzi this week.
Sunderland Football Club are doing fine presently so the player would only add to their already good form. I trust them for good football.