Stokes signs for Sunderland

Sunderland have completed the signing of Arsenal's teenage striker Anthony Stokes in a £2million deal.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker Stokes joined Arsenal as a trainee in the summer of 2004.

Ironically, his only competitive appearance in Arsenal's first team was when he came on for the last two minutes as a substitute at Sunderland in a 3-0 League Cup victory in October 2005.

He has now signed a three-year deal with the North East club.

"It's brilliant to be here, it's been a hectic few days sorting things out and now I'm looking forward to training and playing," said Stokes.

"I spoke to Roy Keane about everything, he told me his hopes for the club and it made up my mind."

Stokes scored 16 goals, including three hat-tricks -- two of them in successive games -- while on loan at Scottish Premier League club Falkirk this season.

The deal is Keane's third signing of the January transfer window. Keane has signed Carlos Edwards from Luton and taken Jonny Evans on loan from Manchester United.