Colback swaps Mackems for Magpies

Newcastle United have completed the signing of Jack Colback on a free transfer from rivals Sunderland, according to Sky Sports.

The 24 year old had also been linked with a move to West Ham United and Aston Villa, but has opted to move to the side he supported as a boy.

Colback made over one-hundred appearances for the Black Cats, while he has also turned out fifty-five times across two loan spells with Ipswich Town.

Last season he played forty-one times in all competitions, a tally which includes the League Cup final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley on March 2nd.

Internationally he has been capped once by England at Under 20 level, coming off the bench in a 2-0 friendly victory over Italy in 2009.

He becomes the first player to move directly from Sunderland to Newcastle since Paul Bracewell in 1992, while Birmingham City manager Lee Clark moved in the opposite direction in 1997.