Sunderland defender Coates joins Sporting Lisbon

Rob Conlon
Sebastian Coates: Defender joined Sunderland in 2014

Sebastian Coates: Defender joined Sunderland in 2014

Former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates has left Sunderland to join Sporting Lisbon on loan.

The 25-year-old Uruguay international headed for Portugal following Sunderland’s capture of Ivory Coast international Lamine Kone on Wednesday evening and could make his Sporting debut against Academica at the weekend.

Coates joined the Black Cats from Liverpool, initially on loan, in 2014 and made a permanent move to the Stadium of Light last summer.

He made 32 appearances for the club, but has been sacrificed as manager Sam Allardyce attempts to rebuild his squad while balancing the wage bill to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.