Sylvain Distin has completed a move to Premier League new boys Bournemouth on a one-year deal and manager Eddie Howe expects him to fill the role that former Irish international Ian Harte performed in recent times.
The 37-year-old was a free agent following his release by Everton at the end of the season and becomes Eddie Howe's sixth summer signing.
Boss Howe said: "I see Sylvain playing a similar role to the one Ian Harte played. Ian was invaluable to us in that respect last season and the season before when he had experience in the Championship and no one else had.
"Sylvain now takes on that role and on the pitch I still think he has a huge amount to offer."
1Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat secured his first signing with Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates completing a permanent switch to the Stadium of Light.
The 24-year-old Uruguay international, who had a year remaining on his contract at Anfield, has signed a four-year deal and joins for an undisclosed fee understood to be in the region of £2million.
1 Dani Osvaldo's expensive spell at Southampton is over, although it has come at a cost of around £25million to the club.
Osvaldo was shipped off on loan to Juventus after head-butting captain Jose Fonte, before spending spells at Inter Milan and Boca Juniors last term. Now, Southampton have cut their losses, terminating the Italy international's contract with two years remaining.
1 Celtic have signed defender Saidy Janko from Manchester United on a four-year contract.