Leeds United can now confirm Ivory Coast international Sol Bamba has completed a loan switch from Palermo for the remainder of the season.

The former Leicester City defender becomes United’s first signing of the January transfer window.

Bamba, an experienced centre-back, is an established part of the Ivory Coast set-up with 44 caps to his name, and completed all three of their World Cup group games over the summer.

The 30-year-old progressed through the youth system at Paris Saint-Germain before going on to spend five years in Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic and then Hibernian.

January 2011 saw him move to English football as he re-united with former Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson in the Championship with Leicester City.

Bamba made a dream debut for the Foxes, scoring with his first touch in a 2-2 FA Cup draw with Manchester City.

The defender made a total of 55 appearances at Leicester, scoring four times, before going on to join Turkish outfit Trabzonspor in 2012.

He made the switch to Palermo last summer, penning a three-year deal, but has been restricted to just one appearance in Serie A so far this season.