Sunderland have completed the signing of Hull City defender
Michael Turner on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
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Michael Turner: Has joined Black Cats
The 25-year-old, who enjoyed a brilliant first season in the
Premier League which saw him linked with an England call-up and a
move to Liverpool, had a £12m price tag slapped on his head by the
Tigers earlier this month.
Delighted Black Cats manager Steve Bruce said: "I believe that
Michael is one of the country's premier central defenders. I have
been looking to add size and strength to the back line and Michael
fits the bill perfectly in that respect, as well as being an
excellent technical footballer.
"His aerial ability provides us with another dimension at
set-pieces at either end of the field, and I am delighted that he
has chosen to buy into what we are trying to achieve here at
Sunderland.
"He has developed immeasurably as a player whilst with Hull - I
am extremely confident he will continue that progress with
Sunderland and go on to be a big success.''
The news of Turner's sale has already caused great concern to
Hull fans who feel his departure will make it much harder for them
to stay in the top flight for a third season. But Hull are already
believed to be in advanced talks to sign a replacement, in addition
to Paul McShane who moved to the KC from Sunderland on Sunday.
Turner played every single minute of the club's Premier League
programme last season. He made 146 appearances for the Tigers and
was voted player of the year at the club in each of the last two
seasons.
But the centre-back believes working under former Manchester
United defender Bruce at the Stadium of Light can bring on his
game.
"A lot of things attracted me to Sunderland - the facilities,
the stadium, the training ground, the fan base," Turner told his
new club's official website. "But a big factor was the manager.
Steve Bruce is a proven manager who played in my position as a
player, and hopefully he can add to my game.''
Sunderland have six points from their opening four matches this
season, and Turner is certain the team is going to keep
improving.
"It's a great time to be here,'' he said. "The signings which
have already been made show Sunderland want to move in the right
direction and I want to be a part of that.''
Turner cost Hull just £300,000 when he was signed from Brentford
three years ago and after the draw with Wolves at the weekend boss
Phil Brown said bids were "getting towards a ridiculous
valuation''.
The defender becomes Bruce's seventh summer signing after Darren
Bent, Lee Cattermole, Fraizer Campbell, Lorik Cana, Paulo da Silva
and loanee John Mensah.