Blades seal double signing

Sun and Halford arrive at Bramall Lane

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 2nd July 2008

Sun Jihai

Sun: Two-year deal

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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.