Phil Bardsley yesterday agreed a three-year contract at Stoke City.

The Scotland internationalist had turned down the offer of a new deal at Sunderland and will move on officially when his current contract expires on July 1.

It brings to an end a spell of six and a half years at the Stadium of Light, his time at the club culminating in a successful bid to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League. The defender had been frozen out in the early part of the campaign as Sunderland struggled under the stewardship of Paolo Di Canio but was restored to the first team by Gus Poyet.

Bardsley completed his rehabilitation by starting in the Capital One Cup final loss to Manchester City.