Sunderland have completed the signing of former Arsenal fullback Emanuel Eboue on a free transfer lasting till the end of the season.

The former Ivorian defender was without a club since been released from Turkish club Galatasaray and he had been training with Sam Allardyce’s team February before they finally decided to hire him.

Eboue spent 6 years in Arsenal making 132 club appearances for the London before been finally sold to Galatasaray in 2011.

And after putting pen to paper the 32 year old revealed he can’t wait to help the team climb the Barclays Premier League table.

“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,” said Eboue. “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 Catts, as well as the French players, so it is like a family here.”

He continued: “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.”

The signing of Eboue would offer defensive options for Sam Allardyce as his team bid to stay in the Premier League. They are currently sitting just a point above the relegation zone with 25 points.