Muntari signs with Sunderland

Sunderland have signed Inter midfielder Sulley Muntari on loan for the rest of the Premier League season.

Muntari, 26, was a key member of Jose Mourinho’s squad last season as Inter won the Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia.

The tenacious midfielder returns to England after a season with Portsmouth in 2007-08 and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was delighted with his new signing.

“Sulley is a fabulous acquisition for the club,” Bruce said.

“When the opportunity arises to bring in a player of his ability – even in the short term, you have to take it and I’m delighted we’ve been able to.”

“His adaptability is a great asset. He did extremely well at Portsmouth so he knows the Barclays Premier League well and you have to be some player to move to Inter Milan for the fee that he did. He’s a great addition.”

Muntari’s move to Inter from Portsmouth cost the Italian club just under 15 million pounds with the Ghanaian midfielder making 62 Serie A appearances for the club, scoring six goals.

He will link up with international team-mates Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah at the Stadium of Light, and Gyan is looking forward to reuniting with Sunderland’s new signing.

“Sulley is a great player,” Gyan said.

Everyone knows that. I know him very well, I know the kind of guy he is. He has great quality, a great left foot and wins a lot of balls. He runs a lot in the game and I think he will help us a lot.”

“Sulley is very positive all the time and I am pleased to see players of his quality coming to the club. He will help the team, the whole team.”

Muntari will have to wait to make his Sunderland debut, with the club admitting he will not be in action against Chelsea on Tuesday, but the midfielder will be available for selection when Sunderland travel to Stoke next Saturday.