SUNDERLAND have completed the signing of Manchester City striker Benjani on loan until the end of the season after the Premier League approved the move.

SUNDERLAND have completed the signing of Manchester City striker Benjani on loan until the end of the season after the Premier League approved the move.

The 31-year-old's switch had been in doubt after Sunderland failed to process the required paperwork before Monday's 5pm transfer deadline.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce - who yesterday allowed striker David Healy and Daryl Murphy to join Ipswich on loan - had blamed technical problems for the delay in Benjani's switch.

Bruce was eager to add more firepower to his struggling side, who have not won in 11 league games.

Benjani is a free agent in the summer but City boss Roberto Mancini has said he can move on now if he wants to.

"The paperwork was lodged but we had some huge, huge difficulties and we informed both the Premier League and the FA at the time," said Bruce after Monday night's 0-0 draw with Stoke.

Benjani joined City from Portsmouth in January 2008 but has spent long spells on the sidelines with injury and struggled to establish himself in the first team, starting just 21 games in two years.