Sunderland to clinch first summer signing as Leon Dajaku's move is made permanent

Leon Dajaku will seal a permanent move to Sunderland in the wake of the club's promotion to the Championship. Dajaku spent the season on loan with the Wearsiders from German side Union Berlin, and a clause in the deal meant that his switch would become permanent in the event of promotion - and that clause was triggered following Sunderland's play-off final win at Wembley on Saturday.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: "Leon's contract will crystallise [into a permanent move] based on us being promoted. We were really pleased with all of our loans. They've all had an impact on our team and an impact on our success at different times, and that has been really pleasing."

Germany U19 international Dajaku made 27 appearances in all competitions last season, some playing on the wing and some at wingback, with the 21-year-old scoring four goals. He would likely have played more games had he not suffered from illness in the final couple of months of the campaign.

Dajaku was one of two players the Black Cats brought in on loan from Germany last summer, the other being Bayern Munich goalkeeper Thorben Hoffmann. Hoffman's contract also included a clause that would see his move convert into a permanent deal, although in his case it was contingent on both promotion and him making 25 League One appearances, and he fell two appearances short and will therefore return to Bayern Munich this summer.

Hoffmann, 23, was installed as Sunderland's first-choice goalkeeper when he arrived last summer but he contracted Covid in early January, which opened the door for academy graduate Anthony Patterson to seize his chance to establish himself in the side for the remainder of the campaign, and his impressive performances