Nectarios Triantis: Sunderland complete signing of Australian defender

Nectarios Triantis is one of three football-playing brothers, all of whom have featured in the A-League

Sunderland have signed Central Coast Mariners defender Nectarios Triantis on a four-year deal.

The 20-year-old centre-half has joined the Black Cats for an initial fee in the region of £300,000.

Triantis is an Australia Under-20 international who is expected to move up to their under-23 squad this summer.

Triantis played 26 times for the Mariners and started as they beat Melbourne City to win the A-League Grand Final earlier this month.

Sunderland are reinforcing their squad after reaching the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship for five years.

They suffered problems with injuries to central defenders at key moments of the season with Danny Batth, Dan Ballard and Aji Alese all missing for lengthy periods.

"When a massive club like Sunderland comes in, you can never say no," Triantis said.

"It was a dream to have won the league with Central Coast Mariners, but now I hope to enjoy similar success with Sunderland."

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman added: "Nectar' has progressed rapidly over the last 12 months - at both club and international level - and we are delighted that he selected Sunderland as his next step."