Ajax sign Tainio

(GSM) – Teemu Tainio has joined Eredivisie giants Ajax on a one-year deal after being released by Sunderland.

Tainio’s contract with the Premier League outfit was terminated by mutual consent on transfer deadline day, which allowed the Finland international to move to Holland.

The 30-year-old midfielder will be reunited in Amsterdam with Martin Jol, who signed Tainio for Tottenham Hotspur in 2005.

The former Spurs boss, who had been keeping tabs on Tainio after leaving White Hart Lane in 2007, has thanked Sunderland for helping the move go through.

“I am very happy we could strength our squad on the final day of the international transfer market,” the Ajax boss told the club’s official website.

“Teemu is someone who can do his job in the midfield. He is a winner, a player with a good mentality. I have worked with him at Tottenham Hotspur and continued to follow him.

“I am happy the board at Sunderland was willing to co-operate despite a running deal with Teemu. Therefore it was possible for us to sign Teemu.”

Tainio made 83 appearances in three years with Spurs before leaving for Sunderland in 2008 for an undisclosed fee.

But the versatile Finn, who has made 51 international appearances, played just 22 games for the Black Cats before going on loan to Birmingham City last season.