Sunderland sign England striker Bent from Tottenham

LONDON (Reuters) - Sunderland signed England striker Darren Bent from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, paying a club record 10 million pounds ($16.98 million).

"England international Bent, 25, has signed a four-year deal after the two clubs agreed a 10 million pound fee," a statement on the Sunderland website (www.safc.com) said.

The transfer fee beat the nine million pounds Sunderland paid Scottish Premier League club Hearts for goalkeeper Craig Gordon in 2007.

Bent, who has won four England caps, joined Tottenham in June 2007 for 16.5 million pounds ($28.01 million) from Charlton Athletic. He was Tottenham's top scorer last season with 12 Premier League goals.

He becomes Sunderland's fourth major signing of the transfer window joining striker Fraizer Campbell (from Manchester United), Albanian midfielder Lorik Cana (Olympique Marseille) and Paraguayan defender Paulo da Silva (Toluca) at the club.