Santiago Vergini swaps Sunderland for Boca Juniors

Sunderland defender Santiago Vergini has put his plans of European football on hold again, as the 27-year-old centre-back has agreed to a move to Argentine giant Boca Juniors on a permanent move.

The Black Cats announced the move Monday, with the Velez Sarsfield youth system product joining the Buenos Aires side for an undisclosed fee, Sunderland announced Monday.

It's an unusual career arc for Vergini, who joined Paraguayan side Olimpia from Velez Sarsfield`s academy in 2009. After 18 appearances for Olimpia, Vergini was loaned to Italian side Verona, before returning to his homeland to play for Newell's Old Boys.

Vergini then made the switch to another Argentinian top flight side, Estudiantes, who loaned the defender to Sunderland during the January window in 2014. Impressed by his performances at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats signed Vergini to a two-year permanent deal, then promptly loaned him to Getafe, where he made 25 La Liga appearances.