Boca Juniors secure services of Sunderland's Santiago Vergini

The Sunderland defender was expected to be unveiled by Boca over the weekend after the two clubs agreed a fee last week and the player himself was ready to put pen to paper on a three-year contract.

Vergini had even taken part in a photo shoot wearing a Boca shirt, ahead of his unveiling by the Argentine side.

But during the medical, Boca identified an old Achilles injury which they were hoping would force down Sunderland’s asking price.

They weren’t successful and today the move was rubber stamped for an undisclosed fee – thought to be around £1.5million.

That sees Sunderland recoup the bulk of the £2m invested in Vergini last summer after a compulsory purchase clause in his loan deal.