Former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden has joined Sunderland until the end of the season after impressing while training on Wearside.

The 33-year-old Dutchman has been signed as a free agent after leaving Marseille during the summer.

The Black Cats are now awaiting international clearance to allow Zenden, who has 54 senior international caps, to go into the squad for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Zenden will provide cover in midfield for Sunderland, who also have the option of extending his deal until the summer of 2011.

The Black Cats are short of numbers in the middle of the park after Dean Whitehead, Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards were sold in the summer while Teemu Tainio was allowed to join Birmingham on loan.

Zenden rose to prominence at PSV Eindhoven before moving on to Barcelona, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Liverpool.

He joined Marseille in 2007 and spent two seasons at the Stade Velodrome before opting to leave at the end of last season.