adminIVORY Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue has joined English Premier League (EPL) side Sunderland “on a short-term deal”. The former Arsenal man impressed Sam Allardyce, manager of the Black Cats, during his time training with the first team and subsequently earned himself a contract to stay at the Stadium of Light till the end of this season.
“Sunderland AFC have completed the signing of defender Emmanuel Eboue on a short-term deal. The former Ivory Coast fullback will remain with the Black Cats until the end of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League season, having impressed following his arrival on Wearside a number of weeks ago,” Sunderland announced in a statement on their website on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old is excited with the prospect of returning to the English top-flight after five years.
Eboue is full of praise for Allardyce and his team and believes that the Black Cats can beat the drop this season.
“When I came here for the first time it felt like I’d been here already so I’m very happy to sign for the club,” said Eboue.
“I was dreaming about it (returning to the Premier League) and thinking about it when I was in Turkey because I played here before, so I thank God, my new team-mates and also the staff and everybody else who took me in like a son.
“I’ve trained with the team for almost one month and, as I said, from my first day I’ve felt very good; I’ve also known the club for a long time and I know Jermain (Defoe), John (O’Shea) and Catts, as well as the French players, so it is like a family here.
“I also thank the manager who has given me a second chance, so I hope I can give my best for the club and also for him. I saw the manager for maybe five minutes because he knows me already, and now we’re like a family so we will work together and try to make the team happier.
“In this team we have some experienced players like Catts, Wes (Brown) and the captain John, so now, with me and others like Jermain, we have a good team and a good squad but we have to play hard. It is going to be difficult as we’re at the bottom so we will fight hard to move up the table,” he said after officially joining the club.
Eboue made more than 100 EPL appearances while with Arsenal between 2005 and 2011 before joining Turkish side Galatasaray. — Supersport.
Online Reporter