Sunderland have completed the signing of Liverpool defender Stephen Wright for a fee of œ3 million.

After days of wrangling, the England Under-21 international finally agreed personal terms and passed a medical before signing a five-year deal with club.

The deal will come as a relief for boss Peter Reid who has come under increasing criticism for his poor record in the transfer market. However, whether the signing of a full-back will appease the club’s suppporters, many of whom have been crying out for a striker all summer, remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, Reid was understandably upbeat about his new acquisition.

“Stephen is a player who I have seen play both club football for Liverpool and international football for England, at Under-21 level,” he told the club’s website.

“He’s already a great player and is at the right age to develop into a top-class footballer. I am very pleased to have him on board.”

Wright,, who found himself crowded out at Anfielld due to the return from injury of Markus Babbel sounded upbeat about the move.

“I’ll work hard, as always,” he stated. “And I want to win.”