Premier League - Sunderland complete Anton deal

Eurosport - Wed, 27 Aug 18:35:00 2008

Defender Anton Ferdinand has completed his move from West Ham to Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Premier League West Ham Anton Ferdinand - 0

The 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light and becomes the club's ninth signing of a busy summer.

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

"He's still young but he has over 160 games under his belt so he has experience, he's learning his trade.

"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."

Ferdinand added: "It was hard leaving West Ham because have been there for 16 years but after meeting Roy Keane I knew t was time for a chance.

"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 Wearside this summer.

Ferdinand, who has a slight hamstring strain, will now target the game at Wigan on September 1 to make his debut for the Black Cats.

Keane said: "There is an international break coming up so it would give him a chance to train with us for two weeks."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

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  1. I hope he has not started taking drugs as his elder­ brother Rio. The Ferdinand family seems to be­ drug-addicts. I hardly remember what they did well­ without enhancement drugg. They should take a closer­ look at Maradon as a perfect precedent.

    From Luxy, on Wed 27 Aug 4:01PM

  2. West Ham...... they're a selling club...always have­ been always will be. They always sell on their best­ players to bring in the cash!!! Hammers fans were­ giving it the big one when these Icelandic geezers came­ in and flashed the cash for 5 minutes now they're­ back selling again, they'll just keep bouncing­ between Premier League (where they're not good­ enough) and the Championship (which they're to good­ for).

    From Markus, on Wed 27 Aug 3:36PM

  3. I can only remember one goal scored for West Ham - ok­ it was a corker but a bad return if you ask me

    From jezz m, on Wed 27 Aug 3:29PM

  4. West ham will finish above Sunderland in the­ league.

    Sunderland have bought some good players but­ they aint gonna win anything.

    From Justin, on Wed 27 Aug 3:23PM

  5. Hammers, don't expect that cash to go toward new­ players, your debt will gobble that lot up.....

    From Nick, on Wed 27 Aug 3:19PM

  6. Right for all the moaners and geerers at west ham maybe­ he was all the things you claim he ha been for the last­ who nos how many years at west ham he is a sunderland­ player now and under a manager who demands 110% from­ everything his players do. Look at k. richardson last­ year over weight, not fit play boy this year he is a­ complely different player, diouf has a bad reputation­ same as chimbonda he step out of line on his return to­ his former club didnt even make the squad sat in the­ stands and watched keano will get the best out of anton­ just you wait. £8 million for him a player who has­ played 160 games in the top flight look at jones and­ chopra £6 million each and all they had before we­ arrived was a good year in the championship.

    all the­ best to anton and hope he makes the west ham fans eat­ there words, HAWAY THE LADS

    From gazhare, on Wed 27 Aug 3:16PM

  7. I think he can be as good as his brother but he needs­ to lose the ego.

    From Jay, on Wed 27 Aug 3:16PM

  8. if he proves to be as good as rio and les on the­ field,he will be a prize asset to sunderland.roy has­ signed some top class players this season and niall­ quinn and the board have come up trumps with the cash.

    From PAUL, on Wed 27 Aug 2:40PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    fat lazy and uninterested - See ya later Anton

    From jezz m, on Wed 27 Aug 2:26PM

  10. I feel sorry for sunderland fans.Lets see the comments­ after a few months.He is never going to be worth 2­ million let alone 8 million.I have seen so many points­ lost through him,does he know his name is anton not­ rio.I can see curbishley trawling the hospitals now for­ new players,he even said on saturday he would not sell­ him.I wish we had a new manager now so when we sack­ curbs we wont be left with the @#$% he bought.8 million­ will buy a lot of physios to look after hes crocks.We­ was bad against wigan and looked what we are against­ man city.Please somebody help us

    From whubob, on Wed 27 Aug 2:26PM

  11. keane lol
    ..
    it was 8.. waving those cheques n every1s­ face...
    tried to get mcarthy didnt he?
    well... good­ side none the less now..
    if only i supported the EPL­ now..

    CMON DERBY!!:P

    From Keitho, on Wed 27 Aug 2:21PM

  12. keane lol
    ..
    it was 8.. waving those cheques n every1s­ face...
    tried to get mcarthy didnt he?
    well... good­ side none the less now..
    if only i supported the EPL­ now..

    CMON DERBY!!:P

    From Keitho, on Wed 27 Aug 2:21PM

  13. As a spurs fan, was hoping he'd sign for us - oh­ well pavlychenko will do :-)

    From oliverwrtaylor, on Wed 27 Aug 2:15PM

  14. Lets spend this money £££££££££££

    From webby1013, on Wed 27 Aug 2:15PM

  15. with this money curbs go and buy milner hes quality and­ generally stays fit a future england star.

    From stephen.baxter18, on Wed 27 Aug 2:14PM

  16. Yeeeeesssss 8 million we could buy two decent players­ with that cheers Keano

    From Tim, on Tue 26 Aug 9:01PM

  17. good glad hes going 8m waste of money

    From ERIC, on Tue 26 Aug 8:48PM

  18. I hope that Keano has got this one sown up for his ever­ changing line up, its time we got behind the team and­ manager and be glad we have got £ 8 million to spend.
    ­ keep it up Roy.

    From peterblakeley, on Tue 26 Aug 8:39PM

  19. PPL 8 million is a rough estimate!

    From santos, on Tue 26 Aug 4:46PM

  20. I'm not sorry to see ferdinand go. those who think­ he's as good as his brother dont see him every­ week. 8m is a great price for a good championship­ player a good deal for w.ham. lets now hope curbishley­ does the same with his next signings, and hope they­ dont play for the NHS.

    From stephen.baxter18, on Tue 26 Aug 3:42PM
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