‘It feels great to be here – it’s such a massive club...’
Sunderland have completed the signing of Everton striker Ellis Simms on a season-long loan deal.
The 21-year-old takes the number nine shirt ahead of the club’s return to the Championship against Coventry CityattheStadiumofLighttomorrow, and head coach Alex Neilsaysheis‘delighted’toget the deal done before the start of the new season.
“To have Ellis in the building [ahead of the first game] is great,” Neil said.
"He will compliment Ross Stewart, but equally he will provide competition and he joins following two really good loan spells at Blackpool and Hearts.
"He’s a big lad, who is direct, quick and mobile - and he’s been a serial goalscorer.
"There’sbeenalotofChampionship interest in Ellis, but wehavemanagedtosecurehis signatureandwearedelighted to get the deal across the line.”
There had been significant interest from across the Championship in Simms’ signature, including from Blackpool, where the striker had been part of their League One play-offsuccessalongsideElliot Embleton and Dan Ballard.
An injury prevented his initial return to the club last seasonbutoncerecovered,he joined Hearts on loan, making a significant impression there and memorably scoring against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
A host of clubs had provisionally reached an agreement with Everton to take the player on a temporary basis, but Simms has opted to move to Wearside as the Cats look to make an impact back in the Championship.
"Itfeelsgreattobehere-it’s suchamassiveclubandIcan’t wait to get started,” he said.
"As soon as Sunderland showed an interest, I knew this this would be a great environment for me to continue my development, and a great platform to show what I can do.”
SimmsisavailableforSunday’s visit of Coventry and, speaking earlier this week, Neildroppedasignificanthint that he could be named in the matchday squad: “It depends howtheylook,howmanydays we’ve got on the grass.
"If we manage to get someone training maybe a couple of days prior to the game, then potentially.Anditwilldepend on which position it is, how much cover we’ve got in that area,anditwillalsodependon howwe’replanningtogoabout the game. I certainly wouldn’t rule it out, I’d say.”