Wouter Verstraaten has rejected an offer from Sunderland to stick with non-league South Shields FC.

Former PSV Eindhoven academy graduate Verstraaten had been given an offer to join Sunderland's Under-23s after impressing on trial in a game against Liverpool, but he has snubbed them.

He told the Sunderland Echo: "I am very happy to have signed this deal, as it took a while before we finally got it done.

"I am very pleased that South Shields have shown their confidence in me during these unprecedented times.

"Ever since I joined the team in January, I have felt the professionalism and will to win this league."