Sunderland have completed the signing of goalkeeper Alex Bass - with Black Cats boss Alex Neil immediately challenging him to push Anthony Patterson for the number one spot. Bass has joined Sunderland from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee, with the 24-year-old signing an initial three-year deal on Wearside with the Black Cats having the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.
Bass said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be here and as soon as I heard about the opportunity to come to Sunderland, I was desperate to take it. This is a massive club and the move represents a great chance for me to test myself in the Championship, which is filled with talented players.
"Sunderland had a great run last season and to earn promotion through the play-offs is always tough, so it shows there is a great bunch of lads here. I went out on loan [to Bradford City] earlier this year and it was important to get out there and play games, but now I want to push on and I'm excited to play my part at the Stadium of Light."
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Neil added: "We know that we needed to add competition in the goalkeeping department and Alex fits our model in terms of signing another young and up-and-coming player. He's big lad and he's got quality - and he's brave – so now his job is to push Anthony Patterson and force his way into the team.
"He's played games, but he's of an age profile whereby his best years are ahead of him, so we believe that he's a good fit for us. Hopefully he can add to his current experience and continue to develop into a really good goalkeeper."
Bass came through the youth ranks at Portsmouth and made his debut in a League Cup defeat at the hands of Coventry City in August 2016 He has made a total of 41 appearances in all competitions for the South Coast club.
Bass has also spent loan spells at Southern League side Salisbury, Torquay United, Southend United, and most recently Bradford City, making 22 League Two appearances for the Bantams after joining them in January. In all, he has made 117 career appearances so far.
Sunderland have been searching for competition and cover for Patterson who, at just 22, was the club's only senior goalkeeper following the departures of Lee Burge and the on-loan Thorben Hoffmann over the summer. Bass will go straight into the squad for Sunday's Championship opener against Coventry at the Stadium of Light.
He becomes the Black Cats' fifth signing, after Leon Dajaku and Jack Clarke - who were both at the club last season on loan - made permanent switches this summer, while defenders Daniel Ballard joined from Arsenal and Aji Alese from West Ham.
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