Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce the signing of Patrick Roberts.
The winger arrives from Premier League champions Manchester City and signs an initial six-month contract at the Stadium of Light.
SAFC have the option of extending Roberts’ contract following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
Born in Kingston upon Thames, the 24-year-old progressed through Fulham’s youth ranks before moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2015 at the age of 18.
Roberts spent 30 months on loan with Celtic from January 2016 until May 2018, contributing 18 goals and 26 assists in 78 first-team appearances.
The forward’s time north of the border was a trophy-laden one, as the 51-time Scottish champions won three successive Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.
Roberts has 165 senior appearances under his belt and has also spent time on loan with Girona Futbol Club, Norwich City, Middlesbrough, Derby County and ES Troyes AC.
The forward was part of the England Under-17 side that won the UEFA European Under-17 Championships in 2014 and he has represented the Three Lions at every level from Under-16s to Under-20s.
He will be available for selection when Sunderland host Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Roberts said: “I can’t wait to get going. I came to the game against Sheffield Wednesday a few weeks ago to get a feel for it and it was great to watch – and something that I wanted to be a part of. The fans want you to do well and work hard every matchday and that pressure and expectation is something I thrive off. I just want to do well for the people that support me and get Sunderland back to where they belong.”
Lee Johnson added: “Patrick is a player that we have always kept our eyes on over the years because he really is a top talent. This is an amazing opportunity – for him and the club – to give him the love he requires at a standard whereby we think he can excel and then come with us to the next level. He thrives on the big occasion and the beauty of Sunderland is that there is a big occasion every three days. We hope that this is the place he calls home for a number of years.”