LEO Hjelde says the chance to join Sunderland was a move he couldn't turn down after the Leeds United defender finalised his permanent switch to the Black Cats.

Hjelde has signed a four-and-a-half year contract on Wearside, with delighted sporting director Kristjaan Speakman saying the Norway Under-21 international is a player Sunderland have long admired and tracked.

Hjelde started at Rosenborg in Norway before joining Celtic when he was just 15. The son of former Nottingham Forest defender Jon Olav Hjelde then joined Leeds in 2021 and featured in the Premier League.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Rotherham United in the Championship before returning to Elland Road. He started the first game of the season but hasn't played since in the Championship and jumped at the chance to join Sunderland.

He will bolster Michael Beale's options on the left side of the defence, a priority for Sunderland this month after injury setbacks for Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin and Aji Alese.

Hjelde said: “It feels great to be here and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I spoke to my dad, who showed me the size of the club and the support, and I knew it was a move I simply I couldn’t turn down.

"I’m a ball-playing centre back, or left back, and I like to get up and down the pitch. I’ve been at some big clubs previously and this has helped me develop as a player and as a person, but I’m now ready to push on and take the next step.”

Speakman added: “We’re really pleased to have acquired Leo on a permanent basis, as he’s a player we’ve admired for some time. He possesses the ability to play three different positions in our backline, depending on the formation, and he joins us having already experienced the EFL Championship.

"We hope this will allow him to hit the ground running and help our team throughout the next 16 games, whilst also bringing added strength our squad in the long term.”