Skip to content

Sunderland sign Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson from Everton

Sunderland have snapped up Oviedo [left] and Gibson [right] [pic from @SunderlandAFC]
Image: Sunderland have snapped up Oviedo [left] and Gibson [right] [credit: Twitter/@SunderlandAFC]

Sunderland have given their Premier League survival hopes a boost by completing the signings of Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson from Everton.

Oviedo, a 26-year-old Costa Rica international left-back, joins on a deal which runs until the summer of 2020 and Republic of Ireland international midfielder Gibson has agreed an 18-month contract which will keep the 29-year-old at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2018.

Sky sources report that Sunderland have paid an initial joint fee of £7.5m for the duo - which could rise to £9m including add-ons - and Black Cats manager David Moyes knows them well, having signed both players during his time as manager of Everton.

Moyes told the Sunderland website: "Bryan is a very good player and he'll help us get forward. He's quick and overall he's a decent left-back.

Image: Oviedo signed for Everton in the summer of 2012

"I signed him for Everton from Copenhagen as cover for Leighton Baines at the time, and he's only not getting in because of how well Leighton's done.

"He's 26 which is a good age for us and I think he's a really good character, a good boy. I'm hoping he's someone who will help us over the years.

"We've got Darron on an 18-month contract and I think he's a very good footballer. He'll add a bit of quality with his passing and his play and I'd love him to add goals.

Also See:

"He has a really good strike and, if he can add goals from midfield, it would be a big bonus."

Sunderland freed up money for the signing by selling Patrick van Aanholt to Crystal Palace for £14m earlier on Monday after the defender had handed in a transfer request - a decision Moyes says he is responsible for rather than chairman Ellis Short.

Moyes said: "I thought it was a good deal, but I have got to say, it was solely my decision.

"It wasn't Ellis' decision, it was my decision to sell Patrick so, if anybody thinks it was because Ellis was wanting money, it was far from that.

"There are several reasons for it, but one of the main ones was that I felt that it would allow me to bring in other players.

"Because of the level of the wages, the sale meant that I had opened up the ceiling, which allowed me to maybe get some players in.

"I have known for a while what Pat's thoughts were, but it was always going to be difficult getting a replacement, that was the thing.

"We had an idea of some players which we might be looking at if we could do anything in January and one of them wasn't necessarily a left-back, so when this came in, it turned it up a wee bit."

Both the Sunderland new boys will be fondly remembered by Everton fans, and Oviedo memorably scored a late winner in a 1-0 victory at Manchester United back in 2013.

He wrote on Twitter: "We say goodbye, but the memories are never forgotten.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Everton manager Ronald Koeman explains why he's allowing Bryan Oviedo to leave the club

"I am grateful to this great family for all that I have experienced. Thanks Toffees!"

Everton manager Ronald Koeman said the pair will get more first-team action at Sunderland.

"It's a good opportunity for them to play," he said. "I'm happy for the boys. For Darron there was a lot of competition in midfield.

"In the situation of Bryan Oviedo, it was difficult. He was the back-up for Leighton [Baines] in the left-back position but finally I changed my mind.

David Moyes looks on prior to kick off during the match against Chelsea
Image: Sunderland boss David Moyes knows his new signings well

"First of all, I said to him, 'No way, no chance,' because we need back-up and we need competition.

"But, as a football man, I changed my mind. I like the boy, he was working hard and that was the reason that he got the chance to go and play.

"It was difficult but I think, if we get any problems in that position, we have some good young ones and I think we can cope with the players we have in our squad."

Grab a NOW TV Sky Sports Day Pass and stay glued in to all the latest transfer news from Sky Sports News HQ as the window draws in, all for just £6.99. No contract.

Around Sky