Sunderland AFC are delighted to announce the signing of Bailey Wright.
The Australian defender, who impressed throughout a loan spell at the Stadium of Light last season, returns to Wearside on a two-year deal.
Wright becomes Phil Parkinson’s second signing ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, moving to the North East on a permanent deal after his three-year stay at Bristol City ended last month.
Following his arrival, the Black Cats kept four clean sheets in five games with Wright at the heart of the defence before an ankle injury, and the coronavirus pandemic, brought a premature end to the campaign.
The 28-year-old has a wealth of experience under his belt, having made almost 300 appearances in English football, as well as earning 24 caps for Australia.
Wright gained promotion to the Sky Bet Championship during his eight-year stint with Preston North End, and following his move to Bristol City in 2017, he was named as the Robins’ club captain.
After returning to the Stadium of Light, Wright said: “It feels really good to get the deal done and I just can’t wait to get up to the North East and join the squad. Although I only worked with the manager for a short spell, I really enjoyed the structure and discipline of the team. He expects his players to give everything on the pitch and be good people, and we have that culture within the dressing room. We are heading in the right direction and I’m very confident we can achieve our ambitions next season.”
Manager Phil Parkinson added: “I’m delighted to have signed Bailey. He’s a very good player, but he’s also an excellent character and leader. He’s a really important signing for us and because of his quality, there was plenty of competition for his signature, so I’d like to credit the owner and Jim Rodwell for getting the deal over the line.”
