Sunderland confirm Fabio Borini signing

The Black Cats reportedly had an offer of £8million plus £2million in add-ons accepted by the Reds earlier on Monday, and the player has signed a four-year deal at Sunderland.

It is understood Sunderland were one of four clubs to have made an offer for the 24-year-old Italian, with Fiorentina, Inter Milan and Watford each having come in with lower bids.

Former head coach Gus Poyet made Borini his number one target last summer, but was unable to persuade him to swap Merseyside for the north-east as he sought to establish himself at Anfield.

"I am delighted to be back at Sunderland. It is a club I know really well from my time here previously," Borini told the club's official website.

"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."

Sunderland coach Dick Advocaat added: "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."

However, he has been unable to force his way into Brendan Rodgers' plans - he made just 18 appearances last season and is yet to figure this season - and, as such, had been linked with a series of clubs this summer, several of them in his native Italy.