Eboue thanks Sunderland ‘family’ after signing deal

Ian Watson
Emmanuel Eboue: Facing a year ban from football

Emmanuel Eboue: Serving a year-long ban

Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue has joined Sunderland for the remainder of the season after impressing during a trial.

The former Ivory Coast international, who was released by Turkish club Galatasaray last summer, has been training with Sam Allardyce’s squad for several weeks.

Eboue has now put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season.

The 32-year-old told the club’s official website: “When I came here for the first time it felt like I’d been here already so I’m very happy to sign for the club.

“I was dreaming about it [returning to the Premier League] and thinking about it when I was in Turkey because I played here before, so I thank god, my new team-mates and also the staff and everybody else who took me in like a son.

“I’ve trained with the team for almost one month and, as I said, from my first day I’ve felt very good; I’ve also known the club for a long time and I know Jermain [Defoe], John [O’Shea] and Lee Cattermole, as well as the French players, so it is like a family here.

“I also thank the manager who has given me a second chance, so I hope I can give my best for the club and also for him.

“I saw the manager for maybe five minutes because he knows me already, and now we’re like a family so we will work together and try to make the team happier.

“In this team we have some experienced players like Catts, Wes Brown and the captain John, so now, with me and others like Jermain, we have a good team and a good squad but we have to play hard.

“It is going to be difficult as we’re at the bottom so we will fight hard to move up the table.”

 

Sunderland, who currently sit just a point above the relegation zone, do not play competitively again until they visit troubled derby rivals Newcastle on March 20.