Sunderland sign Ahoka from Royal Antwerp

Sunderland have secured the signing of 20-year-old Jules Ahoka from Belgian club Royal Antwerp for a fee of 10m euros (£8.6m). Ahoka, a DR Congo youth international, has inked a long-term contract with the Black Cats. The midfielder expressed his excitement about joining the club, stating, "I am very happy and proud to join Sunderland." He added, "It is a big club with great ambitions, and I am excited to be here."

Ahoka revealed his desire to contribute to the team's success, saying, "I want to work hard, learn from my team-mates and the staff, and continue developing as a player. I will give everything for the club and I cannot wait to get started." The Black Cats have now made three signings this summer, with Ahoka following Belgian left-back Thomas Meunier and French right-back Dayann Methalie.

Sunderland's director of football, Florent Ghisolfi, praised Ahoka, saying, "He has huge potential and we believe Sunderland is the right environment for him to continue his development."

Ahoka's addition comes after Sunderland's Premier League opener, which they lost 2-1 to Ipswich. Their next match is against Fulham on Sunday, 14:00 BST.