Sunderland boss Steve Bruce says the club can be proud of their capture of Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham.
Bruce had to beat off competition from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham to secure 18-year-old Ipswich striker Wickham and he believes Sunderland have landed one of the most exciting young prospects in the English game.
The fee for the Wickham could rise to £12m with add-ons, and takes Bruce's summer spending to around £20m.
Bruce said: "The signing of Connor Wickham is a statement of intent by Sunderland. It is a bold signing that shows we are building for the future. There were a lot of top clubs tracking him, but we were the ones who were prepared to meet Ipswich's valuation.
"It is also a testament to our progress as a club that Connor wanted to come here. I am sure he will be a big hit with the fans."
