Darlington
v
Sunderland
Thu 16th Jul - The Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena
Sun 24th May - Stadium of Light
By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 2nd July 2008
Sheffield United have signed Sun Jihai on a two-year deal and Greg Halford on a season-long loan.
Sun was told by Manchester City at the start of this week that he was free to move on after six years at the club.
The China international struggled to hold down a place in the side last term and new manager Mark Hughes decided he had no future at Eastlands.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell feels Sun would has a lot to offer in the Championship and has made the 30-year-old his first permanent signing of the summer.
Blackwell has also agreed a deal with Sunderland for Halford, who is for the moment surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light.
Halford made his name at Colchester before joining Reading in 2007 and later the Black Cats.
He may have to compete with Sun for the right-back spot at Bramall Lane but is also versatile enough to fill other positions.

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Thursday 16th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:30 | Darlington vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Gateshead vs Sunderland |
| Sunday 19th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 21:00 | Portimonense vs Sunderland |
| Friday 24th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 18:00 | Sunderland vs Benfica |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Oldham vs Sunderland |
| Sunday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 18:00 | Sunderland vs Atletico Madrid |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Celtic vs Sunderland |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Peterborough vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Hearts vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Sunderland |
| Tuesday 8th September | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:30 | Hearts vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Hull |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Wolverhampton |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Sunderland |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Brom 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Hull | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 22nd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Wigan | |
| Saturday 7th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Tuesday 3rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 0 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 0 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 4th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Blackburn 2 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Fulham | |
| Saturday 24th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Portsmouth | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 0 | 0 |
FanZoner Nick Colling looks back at the highs and lows of last season at the Stadium of Light...
Sunderland supporters head into the new season basking in their status as the leading club in the North East.
Sunderland's 3-0 Premier League win over Chelsea in 1996. Can you name the mystery starting XI?
Sunderland are closing in on the signing of Paraguay defender Paulo Da Silva.
Laurent Blanc believes that unless Marouane Chamakhseals a swift move away from Bordeaux he will stay.
Michael Chopra has completed a record £4million return to former club Cardiff City from Sunderland.
Wolves have completed the signing of Greg Halford from Sunderland on a three-year deal.
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has dismissed suggestions Anton Ferdinand could be sold this summer.