DION Sanderson has completed a loan move back to Birmingham City ending any lingering hopes Sunderland may re-sign him for next season.

The 22-year-old, who impressed at the Black Cats during a loan spell in the 2020/21 season, has been sent back out on loan by Wolves and makes the short trip to St Andrews for the forthcoming season.

Sanderson was on Sunderland’s radar was a potential target for next season with the club short of options in defence following the departures of Callum Doyle, Arbenit Xhemajli and Jordan Willis. However, the club’s interest will have cooled off having signed Daniel Ballard from Arsenal last week.

Ballard, who spent last season on loan with Millwall, signed a three-year deal and joined for a fee understood to be around £1.5 million.

Sanderson links back up with newly appointed Blues boss John Eustace, who he spent the second half of last season with during a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers.