Sunderland have signed striker Wilson Isidor on loan from Zenit St. Petersburg for a season.
The 23-year-old French youth international left the Russian club on a deal with the option to make the transfer permanent next summer.
Isidor developed under current Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris, who was a youth coach at Rennes, but the player never played a first-team game for the Ligue 1 team before moving to Monaco and then Lokomotov Moscow.
He equalled the Russian league record by scoring in each of his first six games for the club, but moved to rivals Zenit on loan last season.
Isidor played 21 times for Zenit last season as the team won the Russian Premier League and the domestic cup before making his permanent move this summer.
Before joining Sunderland, he only made five substitute appearances this season, scoring two goals.
Isidor’s signing comes at a time when the club is on the verge of losing attacking star Jack Clarke, who is expected to join Premier League side Ipswich Town for £15 million.
Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said on the club’s website, external: “Wilson is an agile and athletic striker who has first-team experience and a remarkable goalscoring record at the highest level.
“We believe he fits well with our playing identity and that he has the qualities to help the team in attack.”
