Cattermole agrees Sunderland move

Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole has agreed a six-million-pound (9.9 million dollar) move to Premier League rivals Sunderland.

The 21-year-old agreed a four-year deal and will make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League opener against Bolton.

The former Middlesbrough youth team player, signed by former Latics boss Steve Bruce for Wigan in a 3.5-million-pound deal in July 2008, becomes Sunderland’s fifth signing of the summer after Darren Bent, Lorik Cana, Fraizer Campbell and Paulo Da Silva.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said he was disappointed to lose the services of the England Under-21 international.

“The fee is a good one,” said Martinez. “It is far more than the club paid for him last year and the third-highest in Wigan Athletic history.

“The initial offer from Sunderland was unacceptable as we said at the time, but they have now matched our valuation.

“The speculation about Lee has refused to go away over the last few weeks and this has been very unsettling for him and for our players.

“It became clear over the past days having spoken to Lee that he wanted to leave and it is very disruptive to the group when a player is clearly unhappy.

“My number one priority has to be the good of the club and it left me with a decision to make, I therefore agreed to the move for the good of the players we have at the club and who want to remain with us and help us progress to the next level.”

Cattermole made 69 first-team appearances for Middlesbrough and featured in 33 Premier League games in his single season at Wigan.