Ivorian midfielder Emmanuel Eboue has signed a short-term deal that will see him representing English Premier League club Sunderland until the end of the season.

The combative midfielder has been training with the team in an effort to remain fit while searching for his next professional move, but in doing so he impressed current coach Sam Allerdyce, who decided to offer him a deal until the current campaign comes to a close.

The 32-year-old previously played in the English top flight with London giants Arsenal, and will now seek playing time at the Stadium of Light.

The club announced the deal on their website and social media channels this week, releasing a statement with the details of the move.

“Sunderland AFC have completed the signing of defender Emmanuel Eboue on a short-term deal. The former Ivory Coast fullback will remain with the Black Cats until the end of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League season, having impressed following his arrival on Wearside a number of weeks ago,” Sunderland announced on their website.

Eboue spoke about his excitement at joining the Black Cats until the end of the season, saying that he feels like he is part of a new family.

“When I came here for the first time it felt like I’d been here already so I’m very happy to sign for the club,” said Eboue, according to the Sunderland site.

“I was dreaming about it [returning to the Premier League] and thinking about it when I was in Turkey because I played here before, so I thank God, my new team-mates and also the staff and everybody else who took me in like a son,” he said.

“I’ve trained with the team for almost one month and, as I said, from my first day I’ve felt very good; I’ve also known the club for a long time and I know Jermain [Defoe], John [O’Shea] and Catts, as well as the French players, so it is like a family here. I also thank the manager who has given me a second chance, so I hope I can give my best for the club and also for him. I saw the manager for maybe five minutes because he knows me already, and now we’re like a family so we will work together and try to make the team happier,” Eboue explained.

Eboue has a great deal of experience in the EPL, having played for Arsenal between 2005 and 2011 before joining Turkish side Galatasaray, and he believes that the experience in his new team will help them to remain in the English top flight.

“In this team we have some experienced players like Catts, Wes [Brown] and the captain John, so now, with me and others like Jermain, we have a good team and a good squad but we have to play hard. It is going to be difficult as we’re at the bottom so we will fight hard to move up the table,” he concluded.