Sunderland has signed Manchester United stalwart Wes Brown on a four-year contract to add to its defensive options for the next Premier League season.

The 31-year-old Brown played 361 times in 14 seasons for United but was rarely first choice, with the likes of Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic having blocked the England international's route to a regular place in central defense. Gary Neville and, more recently, Rafael Da Silva have been preferred in his other position of right back.