Sunderland have signed Liverpool striker Fabio Borini for a reported fee of £8 million.
Borini, 24, has been forced to train away from the first-team as Brendan Rodgers looks to trim his squad following the summer arrivals of Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Divock Origi.
BREAKING NEWS: Fabio Borini returns to Wearside signing a four-year deal at #SAFC. #ThisisFab pic.twitter.com/EeYc60lA4V
- Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 31, 2015
The Italian revealed his delighted after sealing a permanent switch to Wearside, telling the club website: "I am delighted to be back at Sunderland. It is a club I know really well from my time here previously.
"It will be emotional for me to play at the Stadium of Light again and I can't wait to get back on the pitch as a Sunderland player."
Speaking of Borini's arrival, head coach Dick Advocaat said: "Fabio is a great addition to the squad who will make our front line stronger. He can play in a number of attacking positions which is a huge benefit to the team."
The club's sporting director, Lee Congerton, added: "Fabio is a player who I've known since he was 15 years old and I was fortunate enough to help recruit him to Chelsea. He has developed into a Premier League striker which we have already seen from his previous loan spell at the club, and we are delighted to have him here on a permanent basis."
Sunderland had a £10m bid for Borini -- who enjoyed a successful spell on loan at the club during the 2013-14 season -- accepted last summer, but the player turned down the move as he wanted to fight for his place at Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Sunderland are also interested in landing Liverpool centre-back Tiago Ilori before Tuesday's deadline, sources have told ESPN FC.