Jeremain Lens completes permanent Besiktas move

Jeremain Lens has completed a permanent move from Sunderland to Besiktas, the Turkish club have announced.

The 30-year-old Holland international headed for Turkey on loan in August last year following a spell with rivals Fenerbahce during the previous season.

However, the deal included an option to buy and that has now been exercised.

A statement on the club’s official website, www.bjy.com.tr, said: “As stated in our report dated 07.08.2017, the final purchase option for Jeremain Marciano Lens, loaned from Sunderland for the 2017-18 season, was used on 28.02.2018.”

Lens joined the Black Cats on a four-year deal in an £8million move from Dynamo Kiev in July 2015 under then manager Dick Advocaat.

However, after a successful start to his career in England, his form dipped following Advocaat’s departure just three months later and his wage packet became a burden on an increasingly cash-strapped club.

He made just 24 appearances in total for Sunderland and last played for the club in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Southampton in August 2016.