Sunderland have completed the signing of 28-year-old Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham in a £3m deal.
Higginbotham submitted a transfer request
The two clubs agreed a fee after 28-year-old Higginbotham rejected a contract extension at Stoke.
The former Manchester United and Derby defender moved to the Britannia Stadium in August 2006 for £225,000.
Sunderland will pay £2.5m up front with an additional payments which could reach £500,000 depending on the Black Cats and Higginbotham's performance.
In a statement, Stoke said: ""We are hugely disappointed to lose Danny, however it is difficult to keep a player who no longer wants to play for you."
Higginbotham began his career at Manchester United and spent three years at Old Trafford, where Black Cats' boss Roy Keane was a player.