Watford have announced the signing of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon from Sunderland on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The Black Cats were open to offloading the 28-year-old this month after he made a few mistakes in between the sticks following Sam Allardyce's appointment as head coach in October.

There was a warning sign to Pantilimon when Jordan Pickford returned to the Stadium of Light from his loan spell at Preston North End.

Now, it has been confirmed by Watford that the Romania international has moved for an undisclosed fee to Vicarage Road, where he will challenge Heurelho Gomes for the number one spot.

Pantilimon spent three years at Manchester City before he joined Sunderland in 2014.