Sunderland have completed the signing of former Everton defender Morgan Feeney.
The 21-year-old has joined as a free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Black Cats, having left Goodison Park at the end of last season.
As revealed by ChronicleLive, the ex-England U19 international has been training with the Black Cats this week and last, and he has impressed Phil Parkinson enough to earn a contract.
Central defender Feeney is seen as a backup option for Bailey Wright in the middle of Sunderland’s back three.
Feeney said: "I'm made up to be here.
"It's a massive club and when a team like Sunderland want you, you don't think twice.
"After such a long time at Everton, I couldn't really ask for much more than to come to a club like this and I can't wait to get started."
Parkinson added: "Morgan has been training with us for a few weeks and he's done very well.
"He's a player with excellent pedigree having been in and around the England U19 set-up, and he will bring added competition to the defence."
Feeney made two first-team appearances for Everton, making his senior debut from the bench in November 2017 in a Europa League game against Italian side Atalanta, and then starting the following month in the same competition against Cypriot team Ap Limassol.
He joined Tranmere Rovers on loan in January this year but suffered a hamstring injury which restricted him to just a single appearance.
Sunderland are having to work undertight wage constraints following the imposition of the EFL’s new salary cap this summer.
But wages paid to players aged 21 and under do not count towards the cap, which has made it easier to recruit Feeney.
He becomes Sunderland’s third summer signing, following the arrivals of Wright and ex-Millwall striker Aiden O’Brien.
