New Sunderland signing Emmanuel Eboue has admitted that he has been "dreaming" about returning to the Premier League.

The 32-year-old signed for the Black Cats until the end of the season earlier this afternoon having impressed manager Sam Allardyce during a trial with the club.

Eboue previously spent six years in England's top flight with Arsenal, and now he is hopeful of helping his new club remain in the division this season.

"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. I was dreaming about [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 teammates and also the staff and everybody else who took me in like a son," he told Sunderland's official website.

"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 (Lee Cattermole), 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. 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."

Eboue could make his Sunderland debut in the North-East derby against fellow strugglers Newcastle United on Sunday, March 20.