Lee Johnson says Corry Evans will provide ‘the glue’ to the Sunderland midfield after snapping the Northern Ireland international up on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old underwent his medical with the Black Cats on Wednesday and has now been announced as a Sunderland player on a contract through to 2023.

Evans has recent memories of getting out of League One with Rovers in 2017/18 and with 66 caps for his country, has a vast array of experience at both club and international level.

He played over 200 times during his eight years at Rovers but left when his contract expired, and will now ply his trade on Wearside as they look to end their time in the third tier.

Boss Johnson said: “Corry is an established international and he comes in to anchor, and be the glue in, our midfield. He carries out a special role and it’s something that we’ve needed – we obviously lost a very good one in Grant Leadbitter, but we have been able to replace him with a long-standing international.

“He will make other players around him better and his maturity, experience and game-understanding will really set him apart.”

Sunderland have had three failed attempts at trying to get out of League One, most recently finishing fourth, only to miss out in the play-offs to Lincoln City.

Evans is the latest player released by Rovers to find a new club, and has been a trusted lieutenant of both Tony Mowbray and national team bosses Michael O’Neill and Ian Baraclough in recent seasons.

And he said conversations with Johnson were key to him making the move.

He added: “I’m delighted to have joined Sunderland. I spoke to the head coach and was impressed with the way he discussed his style of play and coming to look at the training ground convinced me that this was a great place to play football.

“From experience, I know that League One isn’t easy to get out of, it’s all about consistency and getting it right, so I’m excited to get going.”