Phil Bardsley

ROY Keane is turning Sunderland into Old Trafford-on-Wear after making Phil Bardsley the NINTH United player he has signed for the club.

The Reds defender has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract at the Stadium of Light in a deal worth up to £2m.

The 22-year-old Salfordian right back joins a host of former colleagues at the Black Cats.

Since Keane became boss at Sunderland in August 2006 he has lured Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Liam Miller, Kieran Richardson, Danny Higginbotham and Paul McShane to Wearside.

In this January window he had captured Jonny Evans on loan from Old Trafford before nailing down Bardsley. He has also got Raimond Van der Gouw on the Sunderland payroll as goalkeeper coach.

Salford-born defender Bardlsey ends around four years of wanderlust having had five loan spells since 2004.

He was loaned to Reds alliance club Royal Antwerp in Belgium when a United reserve and has since been at Burnley, Rangers and Aston Villa before joining Bryan Robson at Sheffield United this season.

But Keane has jumped in front of his ex-United team-mate Robson to land the player.

"We needed to strengthen our defence and Phil is a good addition to the squad," says Keane.

Bardsley was delighted to move north, saying: "Sunderland have a fantastic manager who has given me the chance to come here and play. I'm delighted. It's a massive club and a good opportunity."

Bardsley's way into Sir Alex Ferguson's senior plans have been blocked by Gary Neville. His best period in the first team came in 2005 when he started in six matches and was a sub twice in an eight-match period.