Sunderland manager David Moyes signs Steven Pienaar from Everton

Pienaar, a former South Africa international, played under Moyes at Goodison Park and is the fourth player from a former club that the coach has brought to Sunderland.

The 34-year-old has signed a one-year deal and will provide another creative midfield option for the Black Cats in the absence of the long-term injury concern Sebastian Larsson.

Born in Johannesburg, Pienaar displayed enough talent as a youth football to attract the attention of Ajax Cape Town. He moved to the Netherlands two years after turning profession and spent five formative years of his career at a club renowned for developing tactically versatile and technically proficient footballers.

The South African has lived up that billing, although his versatility has not necessarily been a strength as he has struggled to tie down a regular starting spot at any of his subsequent clubs - Borussia Dortmund, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

Pienaar first moved to England on loan from Bundesliga giants Dortmund, but produced enough in his debut season to earn a permanent transfer in 2008. A season at Spurs followed, but the move didn't work out for the midfielder, with him returning to Everton a year later - initially on loan.

He will bring experience and guile to a Sunderland midfield that has plenty of spark but lacks experience in creative areas. And manager Moyes clearly enjoys working with Pienaar.

Pienaar is the fourth player that Moyes has brought in from a former club since the manager's arrival at the Stadium of Light a month ago. Adnan Januzaj has arrived from Manchester United on loan, while Donald Love and Paddy McNair have also made permanent moves from Old Trafford.