Sunderland sign South Korean striker Ji Dong-won
- Published
Dong-won has scored six goals in 11 appearances for South Korea
Sunderland have completed the signing of South Korea striker Ji Dong-won from Chunnam Dragons for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old has signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light following a wait for the administrative side of the move to be tied up.
Dong-won has scored six goals in 11 international appearances, including four at the 2011 Asian Cup.
He is the second striker to join Sunderland in as many days following Connor Wickham's move from Ipswich, external.
The Black Cats have also brought in Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner, external for an undisclosed fee believed to be about £6m having signed winger Sebastian Larsson from Birmingham and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood from Coventry, external last week
Dong-won scored 16 goals in 44 appearances for the Dragons, having joined them from Gwangyang Jecheol High School.
He had a brief spell with Reading during the 2007/08 season.
"I am so satisfied to be able to come to a good club, a nice club in the world's number one league," he told SAFC TV. "I am happy because I have a chance to challenge the biggest players, and that gives me motivation.
"As a striker, I like to overwhelm defenders. My aim is to help the team get as many points as possible. That is what will give me satisfaction."
Dong-won admits that getting used to life in England and his new club will take time, but hopes the Black Cats will soon see the best of him.
"It will not be easy," he added. "I am enjoying the life and studying English. I hope I could be a member of this team within six months."
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said: "The boy has been in fantastic form for both club and country and he was one of South Korea's stand-out performers at the Asian Cup, so we are delighted to bring him to Sunderland.
"The Premier League is very different to the K-League, so there is hard work ahead, but you just have to look at players like [Manchester United midfielder] Park Ji-Sung and [Bolton winger] Lee Chung-Yong to see how well Korean players are adapting to its pace and physicality."