Sunderland complete Methalie signing for £25.6m

Sunderland have agreed a deal to sign left-back Dayann Methalie from Toulouse for around £25.6m, according to BBC Sport. The fee breaks down as £23.9m upfront plus £1.7m in add-ons dependent on the player's performance.

The 20-year-old French defender, who has been capped at under-21 level, will now undergo his medical ahead of the transfer being ratified. Last season, Methalie made 28 appearances in Ligue 1 for Toulouse, notching two goals in his final three matches as the club finished ninth in the standings.

Building defensive strength

The signing comes after a sustained pursuit by Regis Le Bris's side to bolster their backline ahead of Sunderland's Premier League opener against Ipswich Town next Saturday. The French left-back represents a clear investment in squad depth as the club prepares to compete across multiple competitions, notably returning to European football for the first time in 53 years.

Thomas Meunier, the Belgian right-back who arrived on a free transfer from Lille, remains Sunderland's only other completed signing of the summer window so far.