SUNDERLAND have announced the signing of former Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper on a deal until the end of the season.

The veteran will become the squad's third-choice goalkeeper, providing back up for Vito Mannone and Jordan Pickford.

Manager Sam Allardyce said: "Steve will be a positive addition to our goalkeeping stable.

"He has vast experience at the top level and that can only be beneficial to Vito and Jordan as they continue to develop.

"He knows the club well and, as an Easington lad born and bred, he needs no introduction to Sunderland.”

Harper replaces Costel Pantilimon, who this week left the Stadium of Light to join Watford.

His last club was Hull City, who he left last summer after two years. He had spent the previous two decades at St James' Park.

Steve Harper will no doubt have upset some Newcastle fans by signing for Sunderland until the end of the season having spent 20 years with their bitter rivals. Here, we look at other players who have crossed the North-East divide.

Lee Clark

Midfielder Clark made 195 appearances for his boyhood club Newcastle before leaving to join Sunderland in 1997. He was a key part of the side promoted to the Premier League as champions in 1999 but was then pictured at that season's FA Cup final with the Newcastle fans wearing a T-shirt insulting Sunderland. He did not play for the club again.

Jack Colback

Colback joined Sunderland aged eight and came through their youth teams before breaking into the first team. But he supported Newcastle as a boy and took the chance to join the Magpies in the summer of 2014. Colback left on a free transfer after his contract ran out, and Sunderland said the move had left "a bitter taste".

Paul Bracewell

Midfielder Bracewell first played for Sunderland between 1983 and 1984 and then re-signed for the club from Everton five years later. In 1992 he controversially joined Newcastle after they offered him a longer contact only to go back to Sunderland for a third time in 1995. He is now assistant manager at the Stadium of Light to Sam Allardyce, who has managed both clubs.

Stan Anderson

The midfielder began his career with Sunderland in 1952 and spent 11 years there, making more than 400 appearances before joining Newcastle. After two years at Newcastle he completed the triumvirate of top north east clubs by signing for Middlesbrough, and holds the distinction of having captained all three.

Bobby Moncur

Moncur holds legendary status at St James' Park having been captain of the Magpies the last time they lifted major silverware by winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969. Moncur scored three goals in his 296 games for Newcastle and all of them came in the two-legged final against Ujpest Dozsa. After 12 years at Newcastle, he joined Sunderland in 1974 and played 86 times in the red and white stripes.