CHRIS Mepham has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan.

The Welsh centre-back headed up to the north east for a medical on deadline day after dropping down the pecking order at Cherries.

He has made 121 appearances for AFC Bournemouth, with 46 in the Championship and 61 in the Premier League, scoring twice.

Mepham has made 36 appearances for the Wales national team.

Asked about his place in the Bournemouth squad, Andoni Iraola said yesterday morning: “He had an injury after the pre-season after he played against Wrexham, I think, and has been recently training with us.”

The Cherries boss said he could not guarantee whether Mepham would be at the club or not at the end of the transfer window, adding that ‘things happen’ on deadline day, and that it was a ‘strange day’.

The 26-year-old joined Cherries from Brentford in 2019, having joined the London club’s youth setup from Chelsea in 2012.

He progressed through their youth ranks, before reaching the first team in 2017.

Mepham played 48 times for Brentford and made his Wales debut in 2018.

He has 36 caps for his country.

Mepham was one of three outgoings from Cherries on deadline day, with Daniel Jebbison and club captain Neto both also leaving on loan to Watford and Arsenal respectively.