Sunderland sign-up striker Stokes

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LONDON, England -- Sunderland have signed Arsenal's teenage reserve striker Anthony Stokes in a £2 million deal, the English Championship club have confirmed.

Stokes, 18, who was born in Dublin and has represented Ireland at age group levels, joined Arsenal as a trainee in the summer of 2004.

Ironically, his only competitive appearance in Arsenal's first team was when he came on for the last two minutes as a substitute at Sunderland in a 3-0 League Cup victory in October 2005.

He has now signed a three-year deal with the North East club.

"It's brilliant to be here, it's been a hectic few days sorting things out and now I'm looking forward to training and playing.

"I spoke to manager Roy Keane about everything, he told me his hopes for the club and it made up my mind."

Stokes scored 16 goals, including three hat-tricks -- two of them in successive games -- while on loan at Scottish Premier League club Falkirk this season.

Villa sign Bardsley

Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley has joined Premier League rivals Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season.

Full-back Bardsley, who has previously had loan spells with Burnley and Rangers, will not be allowed under the terms of the deal to play against United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

But the 21-year-old should be available for his Villa debut at home to Watford on January 20.

Villa, managed by former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, are currently 13th in the table and eight points above the relegation zone.

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