Jozy Altidore 'thrilled' after completing move to Sunderland

The American has signed a four-year contract

Jozy Altidore in action for AZ Alkmaar against FC Den Bosch (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland new boy Jozy Altidore cannot wait to start life in the Barclays Premier League.

The 23-year-old United States international striker signed a four-year deal last night as he completed his move from AZ Alkmaar for an undisclosed fee.

He will now join up with his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Italy and is already looking forward to the start of the season next month.

Altidore told the club's official website, http://www.safc.com: "I'm excited.

"Anybody who knows anything about football knows that the Barclays Premier League, when you look at everything as a full package, is the biggest league in the world.

"I'm thrilled to be here and I'm looking forward to getting adjusted as quickly as possible.

"It's a fantastic club, everyone here is so welcoming. I'm really excited about this season - it has everything here, all the combinations to be a big club, so I'm really excited to be a part of it."

Sunderland will launch their campaign against Fulham at the Stadium of Light, when Altidore will get the chance to experience running out in front of 40,000 Wearsiders for the first time.

He said: "It's great, it's part of taking that next step as a player.

"To be able to play in front of a stadium like that is going to be really exciting - I hope they like what I do on the pitch.

"Everybody, I'm sure, is excited to get the season off to a good start and I'm no different.

"I can't wait to meet the guys, meet the coaching staff and get acclimatised as soon as possible.

"I'm just going to give everything I can to the team, that's the biggest thing, to get the respect of your team-mates and when you do that, I think everything will fall into place.

"I'll just give my all for the club. I really appreciate the club making the investment in me as a player and I want to give that back."

Altidore became the latest addition to Paolo Di Canio's much-changed squad and he is unlikely to be the last.

Reports from Italy have suggested the Black Cats are close to sealing a deal for Juventus midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, while Velez Sarsfield full-back Gino Peruzzi's proposed move to Wearside could be back on after further discussions over a deal which stalled earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Sunderland will attempt to persuade midfielder Jack Colback that his future lies at the Stadium of Light after he rejected the offer of a new contract.

It remains to be seen if his decision was a bargaining ploy by a player of whom Di Canio has spoken warmly during his time at the club.

PA