Done Deal: Aiden McGeady & James Vaughan sign for Sunderland!

Sunderland have confirmed the signings of Aiden McGeady (three years) and James Vaughan (two years) this evening from Everton and Bury respectively.

Vaughan joins for League One Bury for around £900k on the back of a successful season with the Shakers, netting 24 goals in his last campaign. The former Everton striker links back up with his former Huddersfield manager at Sunderland in a bid to make his way back to the Premier League after five years outside of the top flight.

Known as a capable all-round finisher, Vaughan has seen something of a career resurgence in recent times and has earned his move back to a club following his time at Lee Clark’s Bury, and will be keen to prove that he is the man capable of scoring the goals that matter in the season ahead.

McGeady - a Republic of Ireland international - lands after something of a protracted pursuit by the Black Cats as contractual issues with Everton needed ironing out before his move to Wearside. The fee is believed to be less than £250k - a relative steal.

The winger has endured a tricky time at the Merseyside club in the last couple of years and has increasingly found his first team opportunities limited.

Without any assurance of game time McGeady was sent out on loan for a brief stint at Sheffield Wednesday before finally finding his feet again at Preston North End, under current Sunderland manager Simon Grayson.

He played a pivotal role in Preston's season last term, appearing thirty four times and scoring eight goals. He was awarded the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for February after scoring three goals and providing four assists.

Known more for his skill than his pace, McGeady is a creative, attack-minded winger that can terrorise defenders – something which has been missing from the Sunderland squad for far too long. He's tricky in the take on and he can be wonderfully accurate on the pass. We can expect McGeady to rain down crosses and if the manager finally resolves the issue that is the lack of an aerial threat in our squad, we're looking at consistent chance creation.

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Both players are sensible signings that will add quality and depth to a threadbare Sunderland squad that is slowly starting to take shape under their former manager, Simon Grayson.

Each signing illustrates just how keen Grayson is to mold the Sunderland squad into a side that he feels can push ahead and challenge for honours in the coming Championship campaign without breaking the already fragile transfer kitty. Sensible yet impressive, they signal a change in approach for the club - an approach that has been needed for quite some time.

Both McGeady and Vaughan will see this as chance to really prove their credentials and guide Sunderland back to the Premier League. Hopefully linking up with their former mentor, Simon Grayson, will help them do just that.