LATEST Sunderland signing Aji Alese admits he’ll play where he is told to play in the side as the Black Cats added versality to their defence.

The West Ham United academy graduate penned a three-year deal with the club last week and has featured in Sunderland’s last two pre-season friendlies.

The six for four inch defender can play on the left side of defence of as a left-back giving Alex Neil a variety of different options to choose from. For Alese, he’s just wants to play.

“I’m happy to play wherever the gaffer wants me to play, I’m happy to go and do a job there” he said. “Obviously preferably on the left-hand side but I’m happy to give it a go and give 100 per cent wherever I’m put.”

The 21-year-old acquisition is a sign of how Sunderland are investing in youth over the summer with Daniel Ballard, aged 22, and Jack Clarke at 21 also completing permanent moves to the club.

The Black Cats have a host of young up and coming players in the first-team squad who have all made their mark which is a trend that Alese is looking to continue for his new side.

The defender continued: “It was all done very quick and I think that’s what Sunderland wanted to do, they wanted to keep it under wraps and get it done as quick as possible. When the contact was made I knew that I wanted to come here and it was all done very quickly.

“Whenever you see young players doing well and thriving at a club you know that’s somewhere you’d like to be. I knew Dan (Neil), Dan (Ballard) and Jay (Matete) and they’ve been doing well here so it kind of attracted me towards the club.”

Alese’s potential has been identified at Sunderland through various performances for West Ham United Under-23’s. However, he failed to make a first-team debut for the Hammers.

Some West Ham fans were quick to voice their discontent at letting Alese go which was flattering news for the new Sunderland man but is also looking to turn a new page in his career.

Alese added: “Now I’m here in Sunderland I’m just going to try my best, help out the team and play for the fans.

“It’s always nice to be admired wherever you are but I’ve left West Ham now and it’s time to show the Sunderland fans what I can do.”

Sunderland’s next pre-season game will take them to Alese’s former club this weekend in Accrington Stanley where he had a loan spell in 2019.