Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson has landed Everton striker James Beattie in a £4 million swoop.
Blackburn had expressed interest and Middlesbrough and Birmingham were also monitoring the race but United made the best offer and Robson's persuasive talking did the rest.
The manager said: "I'm delighted. We've got a strike force now that ranks as the best in the Championship. It's a signal of our intention to return to the top flight."