Sunderland have confirmed that Enzo Le Fee has joined the Black Cats on loan with a mandatory option to buy if conditions are met.
The Wearside club have made a major statement in the race for promotion to the Premier League after capturing the Roma midfielder.
The Frenchman has joined on loan with the Black Cats possessing a mandatory option to buy Le Fee for £19.23 million if the club is promoted to the top flight.
Rumours around the transfer have surrounded the window but he has now arrived in England and put pen to paper to join the Black Cats.
Enzo Le Fee joins Sunderland on loan with the option to buy
Le Fee arrives from Roma where he has spent the last six months after signing from Rennes in the summer.
Previously, the 24-year-old had a successful spell at Lorient where he worked under current Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris.
Now officially a Black Cats player, Le Fee will want to get off to a good start and quickly make a name for himself in the Championship.
If the club does get promoted to the Premier League, the Frenchman would become Sunderland’s most expensive player with the fee exceeding the one spent on Didier Ndong.
The Black Cats’ transfer business might not be done yet either, with Sunderland also looking at a new striker.
Enzo Le Fee signing is a statement by Sunderland
In the Championship, there may not be a bigger signing this month than Sunderland’s capture of Le Fee.
The midfielder is a top player whose transfer to Italy in the summer simply hasn’t worked out.
If Le Bris can help Le Fee regain his form, it will put the club in an excellent position to push up the table and get into the promotion places.
Hopefully, this can be done as soon as possible as the Frenchman could be the difference between playoffs and the top two.