JASON Steele has left Blackburn Rovers to join Championship side Sunderland.

The Black Cats have moved for the 26-year-old to plug the gap in their goalkeeping department after seeing Jordan Pickford and Vito Mannone leave this summer.

Steele moves to the Stadium of Light on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The move sees the goalkeeper return to the North East almost three years after joining Rovers, initially on loan, from Middlesbrough where he came through the ranks.

Steele made 136 appearances in all for Rovers, including a run of 92 consecutive league starts until injury forced him to miss the final five games of last season as Rovers were relegated from League One.

David Raya impressed in Steele’s absence at the end of last year, as despite Rovers dropping out of the Championship, he kept three clean sheets in their final five outings.

And the Spaniard, who signed a new long-term deal with the club earlier this year, has been preferred to Steele in the pre-season games so far, including Tuesday night’s friendly win at Grimsby Town.

Speaking of the interest in Steele after Tuesday’s win at Grimsby Town, Tony Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “What I would say to our supporters is that somewhere down the line to finish the squad off we probably need to create financial space in the budget.

“If that means that we decide to let one player go that we would ideally like to keep then we will do that.

“If that is Jason, we will see if there’s a deal to be done.

“It might not be Jason, we will wait and see.  He could well be playing on Friday night for us and playing at Southend a week on Saturday.

“I’m looking at the options.

“There’s a few people looking at our players at the moment and thinking we are vulnerable, but my message is loud and clear, we are not vulnerable financially.

“If anyone leaves it will be my decision and done because the money and salary will be used to strengthen other parts of the team.

“Let’s wait and see what the next few days brings.”