Sunderland give Bridge a road back as Chelsea confirm De Bruyne deal

 

John Nisbet
Wednesday 01 February 2012 06:00 EST
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Wayne Bridge has moved to Sunderland on loan
Wayne Bridge has moved to Sunderland on loan (Getty Images)

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Wayne Bridge said he was relishing the chance to play football again, after he completed a deadline-day loan move from Manchester City to Sunderland.

The 31-year-old England international, who has played only 78 minutes this season, could make his debut for Martin O'Neill's team against Norwich tonight. Bridge said: "I've met the manager and the lads and everyone seems great. I'm just excited to start playing football and playing a few games. The club is on the up – the manager has come in and done very well."

Bridge added: "I'm grateful for the chance and want to go out and work hard. I have looked at the fixtures – this month's quite busy, with a game every few days. That's good for me."

O'Neill also competed a loan deal for the former Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos yesterday. The 32-year-old Greece international is currently at Wolfsburg in Germany.

Bridge's old club, City, were close to a loan deal for Chilean midfielder David Pizarro, currently at Roma.

Chelsea were the first Premier League club to confirm a deal on deadline day, the midfielder Kevin de Bruyne completing his long-mooted move from Genk. The Belgian club announced that the 20-year-old had signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge but that he would remain with them on loan.

Chelsea also offloaded the 18-year-old Austrian striker Philipp Prosenik, transferred to Milan for an undisclosed fee. West Bromwich Albion confirmed the signing of the Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell, for an undisclosed fee and on a two-and-a-half year contract. Millwall signed striker Andy Keogh from Wolves for an undisclosed fee.

Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka has gone to Bayer Leverkusen on loan until the end of the season. The Croatian, who cost £8.5m, has made 76 league starts since arriving from Manchester City in 2008.

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