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Sunderland finally sign striker Bent
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-07 15:04

SUNDERLAND, England: Sunderland finally completed their club record 10-million-pound ($17-million) swoop for Tottenham striker Darren Bent on Wednesday.

Sunderland finally sign striker Bent

The 25-year-old had become increasingly frustrated after Tottenham's transfer demands forced him to wait for more than a week to move to the Stadium of Light.

The England international even criticised Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on the Twitter website before being forced to apologise for his comments.

But Bent was able to put pen to paper on a four-year contract with Steve Bruce's team after the last financial details were agreed between the two clubs.

"Steve Bruce finally has his man as Sunderland have confirmed the 10 million pounds signing of Spurs striker Darren Bent," a statement on Sunderland's website confirmed.

Bent becomes the Black Cats' fourth close-season signing after the arrivals of Fraizer Campbell, Lorik Cana and Paulo Da Silva.

Bent's fee surpasses Sunderland's previous biggest deal - the nine million pounds capture of Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon from Hearts.

Bent scored 55 goals in 141 appearances for Ipswich before joining Charlton, where he notched 37 goals in 79 games prior to a 16.5-million-pound switch to Tottenham.

He netted 25 goals in 79 appearances at Spurs but never convinced boss Harry Redknapp he was worth a regular place. Redknapp even claimed his wife, Sandra, could have scored a chance Bent missed against Portsmouth last season.