Cattermole came through the Middlebrough youth academy
Sunderland have signed combative midfielder Lee Cattermole from Wigan for £6m, on a four-year contract.
Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has moved to sign Cattermole, 21, for a second time after paying Middlesbrough £3.5m to take him to Wigan in July 2008.
The England Under-21 international made 33 appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring once.
Cattermole will go into Sunderland's squad for their Premier League opener against Bolton on Saturday.
Bruce has made Cattermole his fifth summer signing following Darren Bent, Lorik Cana, Fraizer Campbell and Paulo Da Silva to the Stadium of Light.
Latics manager Roberto Martinez said he was disappointed to lose the services of the England Under-21 international, but was happy with the fee he achieved.
"It is far more than the club paid for him last year and the third highest fee in Wigan Athletic history," said Martinez.
"The initial offer from Sunderland was unacceptable as we said at the time, but they have now matched our valuation. The speculation about Lee has refused to go away over the last few weeks and this has been very unsettling for him and for our players.
"It became clear over the past days having spoken to Lee that he wanted to leave and it is very disruptive to the group when a player is clearly unhappy.
"My number one priority has to be the good of the club and it left me with a decision to make. I therefore agreed to the move for the good of the players we have at the club and who want to remain with us and help us progress to the next level."
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