Transfers: Irish international striker Aaron Connolly set to sign for Sunderland

Sunderland are close to completing the free transfer of Aaron Connolly.

The 24-year-old forward, who has nine caps for the Republic of Ireland, arrived on Wearside on Sunday and travelled to the club’s Academy of Light training ground this morning.

Connolly left Hull City in the summer after scoring eight goals in 28 appearances for the Tigers in the Championship last season, and will join Sunderland to bolster an attacking line that has performed well under Regis Le Bris so far this campaign.

His former clubs include Brighton, where he spent five seasons after coming through their academy, and loan spells with Luton, Middlesbrough, Venezia and Hull.