Graham heads back to Wearside
SUNDERLAND have signed free agent Danny Graham on a one-year deal.
The 35-year-old has agreed to rejoin the Black Cats after leaving Blackburn Rovers at the end of last season.
Graham played for Sunderland between 2013 and 2016, but only scored once in 42 appearances.
However, the striker, who hit 21 goals in 62 Premier League games for Swansea, went on to have better fortunes at Ewood Park.
Despite interest from around League One – including promotion rivals Ipswich Town – Graham has been persuaded to return to his native North East roots with Sunderland.
“It’s been in the pipeline for a number of weeks now, so I’m delighted the deal is done and it feels great to be here,” Graham said after signing for Sunderland.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
Manager Phil Parkinson was pleased to have got his man, adding: “I’m delighted to welcome Danny to the club. He provides us with another option and more competition at the top end of the pitch, and he is another excellent addition to the squad.
Graham began his career at Middlesbrough, coming through the youth ranks on Teesside and enjoying spells on loan at the likes of Leeds United and Derby.
But it was a switch to Carlisle United which really kick-started his career, with Graham prolific for the then League One Cumbrians.
His form in the North West earned him a move to Championship side Watford, where he again impressed with 41 goals in 98 games, before joining Swansea in 2011.
His first season in the Premier League saw him bag 12 goals under Brendan Rodgers, and although his second season was less fruitful in the league, he played a big part in firing the Swans to the League Cup final under the guidance of Brian Laudrup.
However, a £5m move to Sunderland in 2013 signalled the start of some difficult times for the striker. Loan spells with Hull, Middlesbrough and Wolves failed to change his fortunes, but a temporary switch to Blackburn saw him impress with seven goals in 18 appearances.
That form earned him a two-year deal at Ewood Park in 2016, and he would go on to notch 57 times for Rovers.