Mukiele became the Black Cats’ 12th summer signing earlier today when he signed a four-year contract to complete a move from Paris St Germain.
Sunderland have paid an initial fee of £9.5m for the 27-year-old, who can play at centre-half or right-back, with a further £2.5m of potential add-ons also forming part of the deal.
Having completed his medical at the end of last week, Mukiele watched Sunderland’s 3-0 win over West Ham from the directors’ box at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, and the defender cannot wait to be at the heart of the action with his new club.
“It’s a new challenge and I’m happy to be here,” said Mukiele. “I saw the atmosphere of the stadium, and this is something I really like.
“The fans are very important in football, and especially in Sunderland. I came here to fight for them.
“I see some good players and see their quality, so I believe that we can do something good together – and when I say together, I mean the players, the fans and the city. We will need everyone this season.”
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Mukiele played for Stade Lavallois, Montpellier and RB Leipzig prior to joining PSG, and boasts more than 300 senior appearances in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
A senior France international, he spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, where he played alongside new Black Cats skipper Granit Xhaka, who played an important role in persuading him to move to Wearside.
“I talked to him [Xhaka] and he explained to me about the challenge and why he chose to come here,” said Mukiele. “When a player like Granit speaks, you have to listen to him with both ears.
“This is one of the reasons why I could really understand this project. It was a long conversation but a good one, because it meant I made the decision really quickly. I felt something in my body that said just to go. Don’t look back. This is what I did.
“Everyone knows that when you get promoted to the Premier League, it is not easy. I believe that we can do something really good.”
Mukiele’s positional versatility was one of the key reasons why Sunderland’s recruitment team opted to make a formal approach to PSG, along with a level of experience that has seen the defender win the German cup with Leipzig as well as back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in Paris.
Mukiele, who will wear Sunderland’s number 20 shirt, made 24 senior appearances for Bayer Leverkusen last season, and will join his new team-mates in training at the Academy of Light this week.
“Nordi possesses rare athletic qualities that are perfectly suited to our team in the Premier League,” said Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman. “In addition, he has tactical versatility as a right back and centre back – for these reasons, we felt it was an acquisition we needed to make to enhance our group.
“He’s had a variety of experiences in Europe, including in the Champions League, and now he’s motivated to show his ability for Sunderland AFC in the Premier League. We’re delighted to complete this deal.”
Mukiele is Sunderland’s 12th signing since winning promotion, but he might not be the final summer arrival with the Wearsiders still hoping to bring in another attacking wide player before the window closes at the end of the month.
They had agreed a deal for Armand Lauriente, only to pull out of a move for the Sassuolo forward during their pre-season training camp in Portugal.
“We will have to see what happens,” said Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris. “It will probably be more attractive for players now!
“We have always said that we have to find the right players for the project. So far, I am really happy with the way the new lads are connected with the project. They showed that today.
“Maybe we still have to have one or two more players, we will see. If that is the case, then it will be exactly the same. They will have to be connected to what we are trying to do.”
