SUNDERLAND, England (AFP) - Sunderland boss Roy Keane on Tuesday continued to beef up his squad ahead of the 2007-2008 season by signing Norwich City's Nigerian midfielder Dickson Etuhu on a four-year-deal.

The 25-year-old, who cost the Black Cats 1.5 million pounds (2.2 million euros), is Keane's fifth summer signing and takes the club's spendings so far to around 16 million pounds (23.6 million euros).

Etuhu, who completed his medical on Tuesday, follows Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Michael Chopra and Kieran Richardson to the Stadium of Light with Keane confident he is amassing a squad capable of making a real impact in the Premier League.

The Irishman said: "I'm very pleased that Dickson has signed. He will add competition to our squad and give us a real physical presence.

"He's a big, strong player who can also get a goal.

"We are definitely heading in the right direction as far as getting the players we want to the football club.

"The signing of Dickson creates competition and a club like Sunderland needs that.

"We all talk about the big four having competition for places, I feel every club should have it and that's what I'm trying to do here."

Central midfielder Etuhu was born in Nigeria, but raised in London, and attended the same school as new team-mate Nyron Nosworthy.

He began his career at Manchester City and secured a 300,000 pound move to Preston in 2002 before joining Norwich for 450,000 pounds after a successful loan spell in January last year.

The Black Cats open their pre-season campaign at neighbours Darlington Wednesday evening, although Keane revealed Chopra and Richardson are unlikely to be involved, meaning Etuhu may also have to wait for his debut.