Sunderland make January breakthrough with deal agreed for Leeds defender

It's been a slow month in terms of transfers for Sunderland, but they are finally about to strengthen their ranks.

Sunderland are on the brink of a January breakthrough after they agreed a £1.5million fee with Leeds for defender Leo Hjelde.

Hjelde is comfortable in both central defence and left-back, and he will get an immediate chance to impress with Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese and Niall Huggins all out with injury.

The 20-year-old was extremely highly thought-of at Celtic before moving to Leeds, and he comes with a football pedigree with his father Jon-Olav playing Champions League football for Rosenberg and in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest.

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Hjelde also has recent Championship experience. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Rotherham, successfully helping them to win their battle against relegation.

For all Sunderland have been ideally seeking experience this month, Hjelde is very much a signing that is consistent with ‘the model’ of acquiring young players to be developed.

He is expected to sign a 4-and-a-half year deal at Sunderland. 

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