Sunderland Sign Steven Fletcher On Four-Year Deal

By Daniel Salisbury-Jones Location: Sunderland
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Video: Martin O'Neill on signing Steven Fletcher

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of striker Steven Fletcher from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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Fletcher, 25, will join Sunderland on a on a four-year deal.

The transfer from Wolves was completed in time for the Scottish striker to make his debut against Reading on Saturday.

Fletcher tweeted: "Delighted to have signed for Sunderland lookin 4ward to 2moro :D..want to say thanks to every1 at wolves, fans and playin staff all the best"

 

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Video: Ex Players and fans on Fletcher signing

Sky understands the West Midlands side rejected numerous bids before agreeing a fee believed to be in the region of £12m on Wednesday.

The striker becomes Sunderland's third signing of the summer after defender Carlos Cuellar and fellow front-man Louis Saha.

Steven Fletcher cost Wolves £7million just two years ago.

 

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Video: Your view - Steven Fletcher signs for Sunderland

The black country club refused to conduct a fire-sale in the wake of relegation, with chief executive Jez Moxey insisting the club's top players were simply not for sale.

Despite being relegated from the Premier League twice in three years, first with Burnley and then Wolves, Fletcher has managed to score 30 top-flight goals, a creditable return in struggling sides.

The Scot would provide the focus the Black Cats have been looking for ever since Darren Bent's shock departure for Aston Villa in January last year.

Steven Bruce's failure to replace either Bent or loan signing Danny Welbeck before Asamoah Gyan's defection to United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain left the club painfully short of firepower, and although Fraizer Campbell's return from injury and Nicklas Bendtner's arrival on loan last season helped to plug the gap, they could not save the manager's job.

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Fletcher began his career at Scottish side Hibernian

O'Neill inherited a squad which was always going to lose Gyan and Bendtner at the end of last season, and until he landed Frenchman Louis Saha earlier this month, his attacking options were limited to Campbell and youngsters Ji Dong-won, Connor Wickham and Ryan Noble.

Fletcher has always been close to, if not at, the very top of his summer wish-list, and a successful conclusion to talks would represent a significant boost to his hopes for the new campaign, which began with a creditable 0-0 draw at Arsenal last Saturday.

O’Neill is believed to have Manchester City winger and local boy Adam Johnson, among others, firmly in his sights.

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