JUST IN: A League Two club signs an ex-Sunderland defender following a £200,000 transfer agreement and a dismal stint.

A former Sunderland defender signs a new contract with a League Two team in the EFL.

Denver Hume, a former defender for Sunderland, has completed a permanent transfer from Portsmouth to League Two’s Grimsby.

For a reported £200,000, the 25-year-old departed Wearside to sign for Pompey in January 2022, but he only made 31 appearances in his dismal two years at Fratton Park. Hume and Grimsby, who are now ranked 20th in League Two, have an agreement that runs through the conclusion of the season.

Denver is a very gifted young man, so we are thrilled to have him over the line, Grimsby head coach David Artell stated on the team’s website. If you’re not a good player, a club like Portsmouth won’t sign you!

“I’ve seen him before, at Portsmouth and Sunderland, and he was excellent in those matches. He is a player with the ability to move up and down the field as well as inside it. He’s a good kid; I know this because I spoke with John Harley at Portsmouth and one of the players there as well, and they both gave him excellent references.

“We want him to enter the game, make an immediate impact, play strong defense, and get up the pitch as quickly as possible to influence the outcome. Thus, I’m thrilled to collaborate with Denver and am hopeful that he can assist us in winning some games.

“Denver has been nothing but professional since I arrived at the club a year ago,” Portsmouth manager John Mousinho stated. We wish him the best of luck in the future and are happy that he has found a place where he can hopefully enjoy a regular schedule of games.