Football: Phillips adds to Sunderland misery with switch to West

The Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips has signed for West Bromwich Albion in a pounds 700,000 deal after the Midlands club beat their Championship rivals Sunderland to his signature.

Phillips, who partnered Niall Quinn and scored 115 goals for Sunderland between 1997 and 2003, has agreed a two-year contract with the Baggies after passing a medical. The 33-year-old spent only one season at Villa Park after moving from Southampton and managed just five goals in a campaign undermined by injury. He is the first player to leave since Martin O'Neill took over as manager.

Sunderland have, however, signed the French winger William Mocquet from Le Havre.

Blackburn Rovers have had a bid for the Netherlands defender Andre Ooi-jer accepted by PSV Eindhoven. It is understood the fee for the 32-year-old is in the region of pounds 2.1m.

The Blackburn manager, Mark Hughes, said: "He has great experience. He has played at the highest level and would be a real asset."

Ooijer's departure from PSV was virtually guaranteed when he made himself unavailable for last weekend's match against NEC Nijmegen.

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