Lee Johnson has described the signing of Patrick Roberts as an 'amazing coup' after the winger joined Sunderland from Manchester City - but warned that he will need time to settle in on Wearside.
Roberts has joined the Black Cats on an initial six-month deal, with an option to extend his stay in the summer, after his loan spell in France with City's sister club Troyes was cut short.
The Manchester Evening News is reporting that the up-front fee is thought to be nominal, but the deal could ultimately be worth up to £3m in clauses and add-ons depending on how he fares at Sunderland.
Sunderland have been linked with the 24-year-old since the beginning of the month, but the deal has been held up while City negotiated the early termination of his season–long loan at Troyes and then while the Black Cats to agree a deal with the Premier League giants.
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In the meantime, Roberts' availability sparked interest from clubs including Celtic and Wigan Athletic which threatened his move to Wearside.
But Sunderland have got their man and Roberts has been on Wearside since the beginning of the week while the deal was tied up
He will be available to play in tomorrow's game against Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light.
Johnson said: "It's an amazing coup, but we can't expect too much of him too soon.
"I don't know how long it will be - it might be three or four weeks before we see the top version of him.
"He has trained but he hasn't played for a long time.
"He has been at Troyes training day-in, day-out, but I think his last game was December 19 - a bounce game for eight minutes.
"Since then he has been at home, he has had Covid which set us back seven to ten days, but we have stayed strong because there has been a lot of opportunity for us to be gazumped with money thrown at him, but he's another one who wanted to join the project and that's pretty exciting.
"Patrick is a player that we have always kept our eyes on over the years because he really is a top talent.
"This is an amazing opportunity – for him and the club – to give him the love he requires at a standard whereby we think he can excel and then come with us to the next level.
"He thrives on the big occasion and the beauty of Sunderland is that there is a big occasion every three days.
"We hope that this is the place he calls home for a number of years."
Roberts added: "I can’t wait to get going.
"I came to the game against Sheffield Wednesday a few weeks ago to get a feel for it and it was great to watch – and something that I wanted to be a part of.
"The fans want you to do well and work hard every matchday and that pressure and expectation is something I thrive off.
"I just want to do well for the people that support me and get Sunderland back to where they belong."
Roberts started his career at Fulham, before making a move - understood to be worth up to £12m - to Man City in 2015, and he made his domestic debut for his new club against Sunderland in a League Cup third round win at the Stadium of Light in September of that year.
He later went on to spend loan spells at Celtic for three seasons running, helping the club win three Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish League Cups, and two Scottish Cups, as well as gaining Champions League experience while at Parkhead.
He also had a loan stay at Spanish side Girona, and back in England with Norwich City, Middlesbrough, and Derby County.
Roberts's time at Ligue 1 Troyes ended with him making just a solitary appearance as a substitute, but his move to Sunderland will offer him the opportunity to relaunch his career.
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