Sunderland have signed former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper on a short-term deal until the end of the season, the club have confirmed.
The 40-year-old, who made 199 appearances for the Magpies during a 20-year stay at St James' Park, has been drafted in following Costel Pantilimon's departure to Watford earlier this week.
Harper, who was a free agent after leaving Hull at the end of last season, will provide back up to number one Vito Mannone and highly-rated 21-year-old Jordan Pickford.
Manager Sam Allardyce: "Steve will be a positive addition to our goalkeeping stable. He has vast experience at the top level and that can only be beneficial to Vito and Jordan as they continue to develop.
"He knows the club well and, as an Easington lad born and bred, he needs no introduction to Sunderland."
Harper spent much of his time at Newcastle challenging Shay Given for the number one spot, but played in the 1999 FA Cup final against Manchester United and also kept a clean sheet in a Champions League victory over Juventus in 2002.
Toon fan Steve "Mitch" Walker: "So Harper signed for the Mackems. Can I be the latest to say so fucking what.
"He served Newcastle well, moved on to another club & now he's went there where he probably won't even get a game.
"It ranks really really low in my priorities where NUFC are concerned and yes when David Kelly came on as sub for them at SJP I stood and applauded him for everything he'd done for us."