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Late last week, Sebastian Coates reportedly secured a permanent move to Sunderland for a fee rising to £4M. With the transfer window opening today, the clubs have confirmed the deal, and the 24-year-old Uruguayan is officially no longer a Liverpool player.
After a slow start to the season and few chances to impress, Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat turned to Coates over the final six games of the league season out of desperation. The Black Cats, in what seems a yearly occurrence, were fighting for their Premier League lives and their defence was struggling.
Coates helped to steady it, putting in a string of solid performances that impressed enough to make him a summer transfer target and, now that he’s completed his move, a presumptive starter for Sunderland heading into next season. The defender has signed a four-year deal for his new club.
Since arriving at Anfield in 2011 following his being named young player of the tournament at the Copa America, Coates managed just 24 appearances for Liverpool. He also spend half a season recovering from injury with his former club Nacional in Uruguay, where he made six appearances.
Last season for Sunderland he made 13 appearances across all competitions, with ten of those coming in the league—and six of those coming consecutively over the final weeks of the season. Hopefully the defender who once seemed so promising can find fitness and a regular starting role at his new club.
