Sunderland sign Ferdinand

27th August 2008

Sunderland have completed the signing of West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand.

The England Under-21 centre-back joins the Wearside club for an undisclosed fee, having signed a four-year deal.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane told his club's official website, www.safc.com: "We needed to strengthen our defence and Anton is a great signing."

The 23-year-old Peckham-born player, brother of Manchester United and England defender Rio, becomes Keane's ninth signing of the summer.

Keane said: "He'll bring quality and competition for places which is what we want, hopefully we can take him to another level here at Sunderland.

"He has come through the ranks at West ham and maybe just needs a change."

The player said: "It was hard leaving West Ham because I have been there for 16 years but after meeting Roy Keane I knew it was time for a change.

"This is a great challenge for me and I feel it is an exciting time at Sunderland. I think the move will do me good."

Ferdinand follows Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque, Nick Colgan, David Meyler, El-Hadji Diouf, David Healy and Djibril Cisse to the Stadium of Light this summer.