McCartney leaves Sunderland to join West Ham (From Durham Times)

McCartney leaves Sunderland to join West Ham

12:36pm Sunday 1st July 2012 in Sport By Scott Wilson

GEORGE McCARTNEY has severed his links with Sunderland for a second time and signed a two-year contract with West Ham.

McCartney spent last season on loan at Upton Park and this morning completed a free transfer to the London club.

He will be starting a second permanent spell with West Ham, as he previously left Sunderland to join the Hammers in 2006.

He returned to Wearside two years later, with Roy Keane shelling out £4.5m on the Northern Ireland international.

Keane's successor, Steve Bruce, was quick to freeze McCartney out of the first-team picture, and Martin O'Neill never considered the 31-year-old a viable candidate for a senior place.

“I am delighted to be coming back to West Ham, and this time on a permanent basis,” said McCartney. “It was great to be part of the side that won promotion for the club last season.

“It was a fantastic way to end the campaign last year and I am really looking forward to being back in the Premier League with West Ham.”