Alan Stubbs has become Sunderland's seventh signing of the summer after agreeing a 12-month deal with the option of an extra year at the Stadium of Light.
The 33-year-old left Everton at the end of last season after his request for a new two-year contract was turned down and Mick McCarthy has moved to add experience to his defence on the club's return to the Premiership.
"Alan is a vastly-experienced centre-back who played nearly 40 games in the top flight last season for a team that qualified for the Champions League," said McCarthy.
"A player of his proven quality will be a great asset to us. He has leadership skills and being an older head, will have that calming influence on the younger squad members that's so important.
"You need characters like that around the place and I'm thrilled that we've been able to bring him here."
Stubbs added on the club's website, www.safc.com: "I've been impressed with everything about the club.
"The training ground is brilliant and I've played at the Stadium of Light before, it's a fantastic venue."
McCarthy has also signed midfielders Tommy Miller and Martin Woods, strikers Jon Stead and Daryl Murphy, goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and defender Nyron Nosworthy this summer.
However, the former Ireland boss has been frustrated so far in his search for another forward after failing with bids for Wolves' Kenny Miller and Derby's Gzegorz Rasiak.
Meanwhile, reports in France suggest Liverpool's Anthony Le Tallec is set to join the Black Cats on a year-long loan deal.
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