Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman hailed Bailey Wright as the 'ultimate professional' as the Australia international completed a deadline day loan move to Championship strugglers Rotherham United. Centre-back Wright has joined the Millers for the remainder of the season and could make his debut for the South Yorkshire side at home to Sheffield United on Saturday, but he will not be able to face his parent club when Sunderland visit the New York Stadium in three weeks' time.
Fan favourite Wright was a mainstay of the Sunderland side that won promotion from League One via the play-offs last season but the 30-year-old - who was part of the Socceroos side that was beaten in the World Cup round of 16 by eventual tournament winners Argentina last month - had been in and out of the side this term, and had been linked with a move away from Wearside this month. Scottish Premiership sides Aberdeen and Hibernian were linked with him earlier in the window, along with League One Portsmouth, but Rotherham have won the race for his signature.
Speakman said: "Bailey is the ultimate professional and he has been an outstanding member of our squad, especially over the last 18 months. Tony [Mowbray, Sunderland's head coach] and I have had numerous conversations with him this season because his game time has been limited and he is motivated to play regularly - we agreed that if the right opportunity presented itself in January, we would not stand in his way and we believe this move is the best outcome for all parties.
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"All at SAFC are grateful for Bailey's contribution - on and off the pitch - and we wish him the best of luck."
Rotherham were promoted automatically from League One last season but are currently fifth-bottom of the Championship, albeit five points above the relegation zone. Boss Matt Taylor said of Wright: "When you look at players in that position, you look at a certain character first and foremost, a certain profile - a winner, a competitor,
"Someone who puts their body on the line, someone who will add a bit of calmness to any back line, a bit of experience. He's played an awful lot of games at Championship level, as he has done at League One level, and he's played international football.
"He's someone who will add to what we are trying to achieve as a defensive unit - which has been greatly improved over the last couple of days - and Bailey Wright certainly fits that bill. With experience comes physical knowhow, there comes mental strength when times are difficult, and we will be tested over the next 18 games - it's not going to be plain sailing."
Wright joined Sunderland, initially on loan, from Bristol City in January 2020 before making a permanent move that summer. He has made 107 appearances for the club in all competitions and scored five goals.
Wright signed a two-year contract extension on Wearside in 2022, meaning he will still have 12 months remaining on his deal when his loan at Rotherham expires at the end of the season. Sunderland signed 21-year-old centre-back Joe Anderson from Everton earlier today, meaning they already had a ready-made replacement in the building before rubber-stamping Wright's move.
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