Sotirios Kyrgiakos joins Sunderland on loan from Wolfsburg

Kyrgiakos has been capped 61 times for Greece

Sunderland have signed defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos on loan from VfL Wolfsburg until the end of the season.

The 32-year-old - who left Liverpool last summer - made just seven appearances in the Bundesliga.

He is Martin O'Neill's second signing of the day after Wayne Bridge also joined on loan.

"Sotirios offers a real physical presence, coupled with a wealth of experience, which will be an undoubted benefit to us," said O'Neill.

"I'm delighted to welcome him to the club and I'm sure he is looking forward to the challenge of returning to the Premier League."

The Greek international began his career with Panathinaikos before moving to Rangers in January 2005.

While at Ibrox he won both the SPL and the Scottish League Cup, in his first season, scoring twice in the final.

He spent two years with German side Eintracht Frankfurt before returning to Greece with AEK Athens.

The central defender joined Liverpool in the summer of 2009, making 30 league appearances for the Reds.