Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates completed a loan switch to Sunderland on Monday, heading to the Stadium Light for the duration of the 2014/15 campaign.    

Liverpool’s official Twitter account revealed the news:

The Uruguay international has found chances few and far between at Anfield since joining the Reds in 2011, making just 24 appearances and scoring two goals, per BBC Sport.

New acquisitions this summer have seen Coates slip even further down Liverpool’s defensive pecking order, but that isn’t likely to be a problem with Sunderland.

Manager Gus Poyet has long been an admirer of Coates, and with the Black Cats’ back line looking in need of a bit of solidity, the 23-year-old could prove to be a cornerstone in their 2014/15 campaign.

The club released a statement via their official website confirming the deal, with Coates making up Sunderland’s eighth signing of the transfer window:

“Defender Sebastian Coates has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Liverpool. The 23-year-old Uruguay international is the Black Cats’ eighth summer signing.”

Coates was sent back on loan to the team that raised him as a youth last season, Nacional, but a knee injury kept him from making an impact in the side.

While the Uruguayan is now back to full fitness, he’s a long way from competing for a place in Liverpool’s starting line-up, meaning that a switch to the Stadium of Light appears rather logical.

He certainly looks happy to be wearing the red and white shirt, too, as Sunderland AFC revealed via Twitter:

The Black Cats face a tough test against Tottenham Hotspur when the Premier League returns on Sept. 13, and Coates will certainly have his work cut out keeping Spurs’ electric forwards quiet.

As for Liverpool, Daniel Agger and Coates’ exits mean that the Reds’ back line is suddenly looking a little short, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Brendan Rodgers back in the market for a centre-back come January.