The 28-year-old Finn became the Black Cats' first summer signing with former Tottenham Hotspur clubmate Pascal Chimbonda expected to follow him to the North East today.

Tainio has won silverware at every club he's been at – claiming medals in domestic cup competitions with FC Haka, Auxerre and last season with Spurs in the Carling Cup.

He would love to bring Sunderland their first big trophy in 35 years since the 1973 FA Cup.

Tainio, who signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, said: "At every club I have played for I have won something and it would be great to achieve that with Sunderland.

"I had three great years at Spurs – winning the Carling Cup last season was obviously the highlight – but the time was right for me to move on.

"I have come here to show what I am capable of. The club is very interesting.

"I came up on Saturday (to meet manager Roy Keane) and saw everything around the club and it really looked nice.

"I'm really happy to start something new here and I am ready to meet my new team-mates.

"They are back from Portugal today and I will perhaps train with them for the first time tomorrow."

Tainio is one of four Spurs players Sunderland were given permission to speak to at the end of last week, the others being Chimbonda, Younes Kaboul and Steed Malbranque.

Chimbonda also had his medical yesterday and Keane – speaking after last night's 1-1 draw with Vitoria de Setubal – hopes for more positive news today.

"There are one or two loose ends with Pascal that we knew would maybe drag on but we hope to tie them up with maybe one or two others by the weekend," said Keane.

"It's good to get Teemu and hopefully this sets the ball rolling.

"He's an experienced midfielder with a good mentality.

"Sometimes people are surprise when they come to Sunderland with the high expectations in terms of the crowd.

"We were short on players last year through injuries but we were also short on experience.

"I would be delighted if we can get all four lads from Spurs by the weekend.

"We have done our bit and everything is basically agreed.

"Teemu's his experience and the fact he has played more than 40 international games shows he has a lot to offer Sunderland."

Finlland international Tainio will be the first from his country to play for Sunderland.

He said: Hopefully I can do well here and maybe younger Finnish players will come here and have a go."

An international, who is capable of playing anywhere across the midfield, began his career at TP-47 and then FC Haka in his homeland, debuting in 1996, before turning down a host of European clubs to join Auxerre in 1997.

His first Spurs goal was in December 2005 - against Newcastle.