SUNDERLAND have made their second signing of the summer, with Bailey Wright signing a permanent deal at the Stadium of Light.

The Australian defender, who impressed during a loan spell at the Stadium of Light last season, returns to Wearside on a two-year contract.

Wright moves to the North-East on a permanent deal after his three-year stay at Bristol City ended last month.

Following his arrival on loan in January, the Black Cats kept five clean sheets in six games with Wright at the heart of the defence.

The 28-year-old has a wealth of experience under his belt, having made almost 300 appearances in English football, as well as earning 24 caps for Australia.

Wright gained promotion to the Championship during his eight-year stint with Preston, and following his move to Bristol City in 2017, he was named as the Robins’ club captain.

After returning to the Stadium of Light, Wright said: "It feels really good to get the deal done and I just can’t wait to get up to the North-East and join the squad.

"Although I only worked with the manager for a short spell, I really enjoyed the structure and discipline of the team. He expects his players to give everything on the pitch and be good people, and we have that culture within the dressing room.

"We are heading in the right direction and I’m very confident we can achieve our ambitions next season.”

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson added: “I’m delighted to have signed Bailey. He’s a very good player, but he’s also an excellent character and leader.

"He’s a really important signing for us and because of his quality, there was plenty of competition for his signature, so I’d like to credit the owner and Jim Rodwell for getting the deal over the line.”