Championship strugglers Sunderland have completed the loan signing of young Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter until the end of the season.
The Black Cats had been closing in on the 20-year-old in recent days and have now got a deal over the line - their first capture of the January transfer window.
Clarke-Salter was a regular for England during last year's successful Under-20s World Cup campaign, but the Chelsea academy product has struggled for senior football at club level.
Sunderland boss Chris Coleman is delighted to have a player of the 20-year-old's calibre, however, telling the club's official website: "Jake is a hugely talented young player who has jumped at the opportunity to come to this club and show people what he can do.
"You don't play for a club like Chelsea unless you have tremendous ability and I'm sure he will be able to demonstrate that for Sunderland.
"Jake is exactly the type of hungry young player I have spoken about and he has shown me just how keen he is to come to here and play in front of our supporters."
Clarke-Salter, handed a Premier League debut by the Blues in 2016, has also previously spent time on loan at Bristol Rovers.
Daniel Lewis
