Sunderland's £9million signing Wahbi Khazri reveals why he joined Black Cats

The confident 24-year-old is expected to go straight into the squad for the visit of Manchester City to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

And the attacking midfielder is relishing the challenge of carrying his good form at Ligue 1 Bordeaux into Sunderland's battle against the drop.

This season alone Khazri has scored five league goals and created seven assists, with former Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria the only player to provide more goals.

The Tunisian international - who netted 14 goals in 49 starts for Bordeaux - has agreed a four-and-a-half year deal at the Stadium of Light.

"I am very happy to play for Sunderland, it is a big team," revealed Khazri.

"It was amazing [to hear Sunderland were interested] because I wanted to play in the Premier League, it is the best league in Europe.

"I am very happy and very excited and I want to play.

"My qualities are technique and I'm very combative.

"Football goes very fast and if you win two games you can move up the table.

"We now have three very important games against Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United.

"When you play these teams they are big games and I am very excited."

Sam Allardyce's fifth signing of the January transfer window also revealed he spoke to former Bordeaux midfielder, Henri Saivet - who joined Newcastle earlier this month.

Khazri added: "I spoke with my friend Henri Saivet who plays for Newcastle so he knows all about Sunderland, and he said it is the best league and that the people are fantastic.

"I am excited.

"It is good too that there are French players here, helping me learn English and the story of the club," he told the club's website.

He is the second arrival from across the Channel in the space of a week after Sunderland splashed out £5m on centre-half Lamine Kone.