Sunderland have sacked former Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji after he ‘comprehensively’ failed a fitness test at the club.

The Senegalese barely played first team football at Chelsea since joining from Nantes in 2015.

He hasn’t played for the Blues in the Premier League and went out on loan to Werder Bremen in 2016, before signing for Sunderland.

After being relegated with the Black Cats, he spent last season on loan at Dijon.

After his return to Sunderland, he was desperate to leave the club following their relegation to League One but was unable to find a club to sign him.

And returning to club a month later than expected, he then a failed a fitness test and the club have now sacked him.

The statement read: ‘Sunderland AFC has given notice under its contract with Papy Djilobodji.

“Djilobodji, who was under contract to SAFC until June 2020, indicated in June 2018 that he wished to leave the club.

‘In order to facilitate that desire, the club entered into a written agreement with the player allowing him to spend the month of July on voluntary unpaid leave.

‘When that period came to an end, the player was expected either to leave for a new club – having reached a deal satisfactory to himself and SAFC – or to return in shape to play professional football.

‘Instead, he returned to Sunderland over a month later, in the first week of September, ignoring written requests for his return.

‘On his return, he was subjected to the same fitness test that his fellow professionals had undertaken on their return. He comprehensively failed that test.

‘As a result, Sunderland AFC can confirm that it has accepted Papy Djilobodji’s repudiatory breaches of contract and notice of the same has been provided to the player.’