Sunderland last night confirmed that they have completed the £2.5 million signing of West Bromwich Albion winger Kevin Kilbane.

The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international has accepted a four-and-a-half-year deal which will keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2004.

Kilbane, who began his career as a trainee at Preston North End, said: "The club is going places and is on fire at the moment. It is a massive club and I'm really looking forward to playing here."

Known primarily as a winger, Kilbane is something of a deadball specialist and has chipped in with his fair share of goals for West Brom.

He trained with his new teammates yesterday before undergoing a medical, and the transfer finally went through last evening.

Commenting on the deal, which has been in the pipeline for several days, Sunderland manager Peter Reid said: "He's a quality player who put in exceptional performances for the Republic of Ireland in the playoffs."

The deal brings an end a transfer merry-go-round as a series of clubs chased the young Irishman's signature.

Both Fulham and Nottingham Forest were said to have had bids for the player turned down, and Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Manchester United have reportedly followed his progress with interest in recent years.

Kilbane would have been out of contract at the Hawthorns at the end of next season, but it became clear in recent weeks that he was unlikely to commit himself to the Midlands club once again.

His arrival at the Stadium of Light presents Reid with a series of interesting choices.

Swedish international Stefan Schwarz has been playing wide on the left after switching roles with Gavin McCann, and both men have made themselves fixtures in a side which currently sits fourth in the Premiership.

But the signing of Kilbane seems to have confirmed the eventual departure of Scottish international Allan Johnston.

Johnston has not played for Sunderland all season after being transfer-listed along with Michael Bridges and Lee Clark for refusing to commit himself to a new deal last summer.

Reid has made something of a habit of picking up quality players at knockdown prices, although the £2.5 million he has paid for Kilbane equals the former club record fee Newcastle received for Clark, which has since been eclipsed by Schwarz's £4 million price tag.

Kilbane's first opportunity to sample the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light in a Sunderland shirt could come on Saturday against Southampton.

Meanwhile, Celtic will continue talks with Rafael Felipe Scheidt today as they work to seal a projected £5 million switch from Gremio for the Brazilian international defender.

The day's main development was the club's announcement that the player will be known simply as Rafael after broadcasters expressed understandable concern about the pronunciation of his name.

The 23-year-old Rafael has 16 caps for his country and has established himself as a first choice for Brazil and is viewed by many observers as a natural successor to Aldair.

Massimo Taibi is determined to stay at Manchester United and fight for his place. The Italian, who has just returned from a training stint with a former coach in Naples, has been linked with moves away from Old Trafford - just months after his £4.5 million transfer from Venezia.

Taibi, who has not played for United since the 5-0 drubbing at Chelsea in October, is adamant he will battle with Mark Bosnich and Raimond van der Gouw for the goalkeeper's jersey.

"Of course I prefer to play, but Bosnich prefers to play and van der Gouw prefers to play. That's normal at a big club with three goalkeepers and when the manager needs Massimo, Massimo is very ready to play," said Britain's most expensive goalkeeper who will be eligible for the second phase of the Champions League.