OFFICIAL | Sunderland sign Reinildo (31) on a free transfer following his departure from Atleti…

| Sunderland has signed Reinildo (31) on a free transfer after his exit from Atleti.

Reinildo’s comments during the Sunderland transfer discussions caught the attention of Kristjaan Speakman.

REINILDO Mandava expressed that joining Sunderland is a “dream come true”.

The seasoned defender has signed a two-year contract with the Black Cats following his departure from Atletico Madrid.

Reinildo completed his medical examination and finalized his transfer in Madrid, and he will join his new Sunderland teammates later this month after receiving an extended summer break due to his participation in the Club World Cup.

Sunderland’s sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, was impressed by Reinildo’s eagerness to join the Black Cats this summer and believes the 31-year-old is the “perfect” match for the club.

He stated: “We’ve had to exercise patience to finalize this transfer because of his involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup, but we’re thrilled to welcome Reinildo to Wearside.

“We believe he’s an ideal candidate for our full-back position, and his experience aligns perfectly with our squad’s needs.

“He has demonstrated a genuine desire to join our club throughout our negotiations, and to be the first Mozambican to play in the Premier League.

“He’s highly driven by this opportunity and possesses a personality that I’m confident our supporters will resonate with, so we eagerly anticipate welcoming him to Sunderland later this month.”

Reinildo remarked: “This is a dream come true for me because I have always aspired to play in the Premier League – and I am eager to represent a historic club like Sunderland.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the team, competing, and giving my all for the club. I aim to contribute, empower my teammates, and share my experience in the locker room.

“Most importantly, I want to bring joy to the fans, and I will do everything in my power to achieve that.”

Reinildo will compete with Dennis Cirkin for the left-back position, although the Mozambique international is also capable of playing further up the flank.

He joins Sunderland after having made 99 appearances in total for Atletico across all competitions.