Daniel Ballard convinced he has picked the right club…

Daniel Ballard convinced he has picked the right club after completing Sunderland move

Daniel Ballard is convinced he has chosen the right club after leaving Arsenal to join Sunderland - with the Black Cats making it clear they see him as a key player as they step up to the Championship. Northern Ireland centre-back Ballard became Sunderland's first new face of the summer when he joined this week on a three-year contract, with the option of an additional 12 months.

The move ended Ballard's long association with Arsenal having become part of the Gunners' academy system at the age of eight, but he says it was obvious that there was no path to the first team for him at the Emirates Stadium. That prompted his departure this summer and, while he initially appeared on the verge of a move to Burnley, he ended up moving to Wearside in a deal understood to be worth between £1.5m and £2m.

"Arsenal made it pretty clear that there wasn't a pathway through to the first team at this moment in time," said Ballard. "I think we sort of agreed that it was the best thing for me to look for a new challenge permanently.

"There was a lot of interest from a few clubs and it was just about picking the right one to progress with. It'll definitely be a bit strange not being an Arsenal player, not having that bit of extra support and going back at the end of the season [after a loan], but I definitely think I've picked the right club so that I don't need that.

"This is a great challenge and I'm really looking forward to it. I had a lot of chats with the manager [head coach Alex Neil] and the people above him, and they made really clear that I was one of the key targets and that they wanted me to be the first player through the door for them.

"That gave me an awful lot of confidence, just that they really wanted me here and also to be a really key part of the team. This is obviously a longer-term project and I think it was that ambition that really excited us.

"That was one of the main reasons I wanted to be here. I already feel comfortable and I've only been here a few days.

"I need to get myself up to fitness now, try and get myself into the team."

Ballard has spent much of the last three years out on loan, with a spell at Swindon followed by a stint at Blackpool in which he helped the Tangerines win promotion from League One via the play-offs, and then spending last season in the Championship with Millwall. He said: "It was only my first year in the Championship last year but I think I played enough to get the gist of what it's about, how tough it is.

"That's hopefully something I can bring to the team."

Sunderland first expressed interest in the 22-year-old towards the end of last season, with Ballard saying: "Sunderland approached really early, they showed a really strong interest. That was really exciting for me.

"There's a lot of work that goes on, especially because of the fact that it's not a loan so between the clubs there was a lot of negotiating to do. Obviously I don't have any input in that so you're just waiting, hoping that something can get agreed.

"We've got it done relatively early which is good, that was the plan. You want that pre-season so you can get settled, get to know the lads."

Ballard says the defensive side of his game is his strong point, admitting he wants to develop his ability on the ball. He said: "I think as a player my defensive skills have always been probably my main strength, it's something which comes really naturally to me because it's a side of the game I really love.

"I think my stuff on the ball is probably the side of the game I can work on, because obviously the game has changed a lot in the past few years, so that's been a key focus. I feel really confident with that now and it's something which I'll keep going with, so I can hopefully be that really well-rounded player."

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