Mannone joins the Black Cats.
Sunderland have completed their sixth permanent transfer of the summer by signing Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
The 25-year-old joins Modibo Diakite, Cabral, Valentin Roberge, Duncan Watmore and David Moberg Karlsson as new additions at the Stadium of Light.
Mannone arrives at the Black Cats just a week after former No.1 stopper Simon Mignolet was sold to Liverpool in a £9.3m deal.
The Italian will now compete with Kieren Westwood for who will have the starting spot on Wearside, arriving at the club with a significant amount of experience having spent eight years at the Gunners.
“I have come from a big club but to be honest I don’t see any difference in the facilities,” the stopper told the club’s website.
“I waited a long time for an opportunity like Sunderland, and for me it is a great one.
“All I can do is try to show what I am capable of.”
However, the ‘keeper only played 23 times during his time at the Emirates Stadium due to the fact Wojniech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski were ahead of Mannone in the pecking order.
The former Atalanta player did feature in 13 games last season though and has gained further experience with two loan spells at Hull in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Mannone’s acquisition further emphasises Paolo Di Canio’s overhaul at the Black Cats, as the Italian aims to strengthen the Sunderland squad following a disappointing previous campaign.
The side from the north east battled against relegation for much of last year, only confirming their Premier League survival after the penultimate match of the season and eventually finishing 17th in the table.
However, after releasing stalwarts Matthew Kilgallon and Titus Bramble on free transfers and bringing in several new faces, Di Canio has shown his intention to at least try and take the club to the next level.
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