Kamlesh Barjati
Banned
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- 26 May 2011
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Birmingham City winger Sebastian Larsson and Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood have joined Sunderland.
The pair have signed three-year deals after previously agreeing the deals in principle.
The Black Cats confirmed last week that the duo would be playing on Wearside next season, but the moves would not officially go through until 1st July.
They join Ahmed Elmohamady, Connor Wickham, Ji -Dong-won and Craig Gardner at the Stadium of Light with manager Steve Bruce having made significant early progress in his rebuilding plan.
Bruce signed Larsson for the Blues for £1m in January 2007 after a successful loan spell, and he went on to make 170 appearances.
However, he did not agree a new contract with last season's Carling Cup winners and, with a series of suitors on his trail, Bruce, who tried to sign him in January, has managed to get his man this time around.
The manager said: "Seb was a fantastic young player for me at Birmingham and he has matured into a very good midfielder.
"He has been courted by a number of top clubs over the summer - both in England and across Europe - so we are naturally delighted that he has chosen to come to Sunderland."
Republic of Ireland international Westwood agreed a Bosman free transfer to the Stadium of Light last week, but the move could not be finalised until his contract at Coventry City expired at midnight.
Westwood will battle with Belgian youngster Simon Mignolet for a place in Bruce's starting line-up with £9m man Craig Gordon recovering from a knee injury.
Bruce said: "Keiren has proven to be an exceptional goalkeeper both in the Championship and at international level and he has certainly been one of the best in this country outside of the Premier League in recent seasons.
"We are obviously delighted that Keiren sees his future here at Sunderland, and we are looking forward to him joining what is a talented group of goalkeepers at the club."
Westwood began his career at Manchester City, but established himself as a first-team player at Carlisle, where he made more than 130 league appearances before winning a £500,000 move to Coventry in June 2008.
He has seven full international caps and excelled for Giovanni Trapattoni's men when deputising for the injured Shay Given last season.
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2384824,00.html
The pair have signed three-year deals after previously agreeing the deals in principle.
The Black Cats confirmed last week that the duo would be playing on Wearside next season, but the moves would not officially go through until 1st July.
They join Ahmed Elmohamady, Connor Wickham, Ji -Dong-won and Craig Gardner at the Stadium of Light with manager Steve Bruce having made significant early progress in his rebuilding plan.
Bruce signed Larsson for the Blues for £1m in January 2007 after a successful loan spell, and he went on to make 170 appearances.
However, he did not agree a new contract with last season's Carling Cup winners and, with a series of suitors on his trail, Bruce, who tried to sign him in January, has managed to get his man this time around.
The manager said: "Seb was a fantastic young player for me at Birmingham and he has matured into a very good midfielder.
"He has been courted by a number of top clubs over the summer - both in England and across Europe - so we are naturally delighted that he has chosen to come to Sunderland."
Republic of Ireland international Westwood agreed a Bosman free transfer to the Stadium of Light last week, but the move could not be finalised until his contract at Coventry City expired at midnight.
Westwood will battle with Belgian youngster Simon Mignolet for a place in Bruce's starting line-up with £9m man Craig Gordon recovering from a knee injury.
Bruce said: "Keiren has proven to be an exceptional goalkeeper both in the Championship and at international level and he has certainly been one of the best in this country outside of the Premier League in recent seasons.
"We are obviously delighted that Keiren sees his future here at Sunderland, and we are looking forward to him joining what is a talented group of goalkeepers at the club."
Westwood began his career at Manchester City, but established himself as a first-team player at Carlisle, where he made more than 130 league appearances before winning a £500,000 move to Coventry in June 2008.
He has seven full international caps and excelled for Giovanni Trapattoni's men when deputising for the injured Shay Given last season.
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2384824,00.html
