Republic of Ireland internationalist Aiden McGeady joins Sunderland from Everton

Republic of Ireland internationalist Aiden McGeady has signed for English Championship side Sunderland from Everton on a three-year deal.

The winger spent last season on loan with Preston North End and he's followed former Preston manager Simon Grayson to Wearside for a fee believed to be in the region of €285,000 (£250,000).

31-year-old McGeady is likely to make his debut against his former club Celtic in a friendly at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, July 29^th in a game to mark the stadium's 20^th anniversary.

“I'm delighted and it's a relief now it's happened,” McGeady told the club's official website.

“It's been a couple of weeks in the pipeline and I'm delighted to be with such a big club.

“I want to hit the ground running at a new club and make a big impression and I'm looking forward to getting started.

“[Simon Grayson] was probably the biggest pull for me. Obviously a club like Sunderland is difficult to turn down but the stage I'm at in my career I thought I had to choose carefully in my next move.

“With, obviously, Simon Grayson coming to Sunderland, he probably got the best out of me at Preston – it's the best I've played in a few years. The two together, I couldn't turn it down.”

Grayson added: “Aiden’s career speaks volumes. He’s been an exceptional player and was an outstanding performer at Preston last season.

"He was recognised by the league with Player of the Month awards and he already knows a few of the lads from his Everton days.

“He has the pace to take people on and carry us up the pitch, and he’ll excite the supporters.”

McGeady came through the youth ranks at Celtic in his native Glasgow and made his debut in 2004 at the age of just after turning 18.

He spent six years in the first team at Parkhead before signing for Spartak Moscow for €11.5 million in 2010.

McGeady spent four years in Moscow and then signed for Premier League side Everton midway through the 2014-15 season on a four-and-a-half year deal.