Sunderland have signed France full back Pascal Chimbonda from Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on Saturday.

The 29-year-old former Wigan Athletic defender, who can play at right and left back and won his only French cap in a World Cup warm-up match against Denmark two years ago, has agreed a three-year contract with the North-East club.

“Pascal is one of these rare players who can play anywhere across the back line and that will be invaluable to us so naturally we’re very pleased to secure his services,” Sunderland manager Roy Keane told the club’s website (www.safc.com).

“He has a lot of Premier League experience which can only be a plus for us and he’ll give us more options at the back, creating more competition for places there.”