BURY'S pre-season friendly defeat at home to Sunderland gave James Vaughan a glimpse of the future.

And the Shakers' star striker says he was adamant they were the club for him once the Black Cats made their move.

Vaughan was speaking to the Sunderland AFC website after last night completing the £900,000 switch to the North East.

"I am absolutely delighted," said Vaughan, who celebrates his 29th birthday today.

"It’s all come about pretty quickly but as soon as I heard about the club’s interest I was just adamant that this is where I wanted to play my football.

"When I was playing Sunderland I noticed how good some of the players were. As a player it is the type of team you want to play in and I am excited about the challenge of trying to get in the team."


Bury chairman Stewart Day revealed that the club offered Vaughan an improved contract on Tuesday in a last-ditch attempt to keep last season's top scorer at the club.

He became an instant hit with supporters at Gigg Lane after scoring 24 goals in 37 appearances after signing for the club on a free transfer last summer.

It was the striker's best return of his career by some distance, with his previous best tally of 14 coming in the Championship in 2012/13 during a successful spell at Huddersfield.

Current Sunderland boss Simon Grayson was the man who signed Vaughan for the Terriers from Norwich in a £1million deal.

He had previously been sold by boyhood club Everton to the Canaries for £2.5m, but suffered badly with injuries during his time at Carrow Road, something that has blighted most of his career.

Vaughan's 37 appearances for the Shakers equalled the most he has managed for any club in a season in his career and he now hopes to continue that trend at the Stadium of Light, in front of a big fanbase he is eager to please.

"That’s what we all aim to do (play games and score goals)," he said.

"I am a striker, I want to play as many games as I can and hopefully help the team get the result and score a few goals in the process.

"I can’t wait to be honest. It’s what you dream of as a kid (playing for a big club like Sunderland).

"I have had a taste of it when I was a bit younger (at Everton) and now I am really excited about it.

"I see how passionate the fans are here. I have seen it watching on TV and when I have been here in the past.

"For me, the type of player I am, I am sure that if I do what I am about –work hard – I am sure the fans will take to me and hopefully that’s what will happen."

While Bury fans were understandably upset by Vaughan's departure, there was a groundswell of support and well wishes on social media, after Vaughan tweeted his thanks directly to the supporters.

"Want to say a massive thank you to everyone @buryfcofficial I owe everything to the chairman, staff, team-mates and especially the fans," read his tweet.