Keane captures Dons captain

Sunderland boss Roy Keane has pushed through his second summer transfer deal as Scotland international Russell Anderson clinched a £1million move to Wearside.

The 28-year-old central defender has signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light after travelling south for talks and a medical, and has admitted the chance to test himself in the Barclays Premier League proved too much for the Dons skipper to resist.

He said: "I am hugely excited. It's a big club going places and it's exciting times to be coming here, so I am certainly looking forward to the challenge ahead."

Anderson added: "It's all happened quite quickly. I have been on holiday and I took a call from my agent last week saying Sunderland were interested. Then it was just a case of seeing if the two clubs could agree a fee.

"I have a lot of happy memories (of Aberdeen). The supporters have been really good to me in the time I have been there. But the opportunity to come here was a massive challenge for me and one I could not turn down."

Keane, who saw Anderson at close hand during his time at Celtic, was happy to have added an experienced defender to his squad following his £3million capture of Reading full-back Greg Halford.

He told the club's official website: "I am delighted we have secured Russell's signature.

"Naturally, we have had him watched a number of times and know all about the kind of player and character he is. He has a lot of experience and will provide competition for places at the back."