Harare — ZIMBABWE captain Benjani Mwaruwari completed yet another late transfer in the English Premiership yesterday when his last-minute switch from Manchester City to struggling rivals Sunderland was confirmed by the Premier League.

Benjani's Manchester City future had remained under a cloud for much of the last day of the transfer window when news filtered through that Sunderland had bid for the striker's services in a loan deal.

Just as was the case with his switch from Portsmouth to Manchester City, Benjani's move from Eastlands was left until the 11th hour.

The deal had then appeared to collapse after Sunderland appeared to have missed Monday's transfer deadline.

But according to reports from England last night, the English Premier League had confirmed Benjani's move ending all the uncertainty that had clouded the Warriors captain's future.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce had earlier insisted that his side had done all the necessary paperwork needed to bring Benjani to the Stadium of Light.

It also emerged that the Zimbabwe striker had agreed to leave Manchester City in order to get more game time.

The Black Cats, who were founded in 1879 are currently 13th on the 20-team Premiership table with 24 points from 23 games.

Bruce had earlier told the club's website that the 31-year-old's move had been agreed to and signed by all parties and the relevant forms lodged, but technical problems at the Sunderland end prevented the deal being confirmed before the Monday 5pm deadline.

"We've done everything we can as a club over Benjani and I'm hoping confirmation will come through soon.

"We had technical problems here and we informed the Premier League about them. All the paperwork was lodged but we had difficulties. I hope the situation will be resolved shortly," Bruce said.

Bruce was however, granted his wish last night with confirmation from the Premier League that the striker's switch had been granted.

Benjani's transfer reminded many in Zimbabwe of the Warriors captain's move to City from Portsmouth in January 2008 which had to be confirmed later as the necessary papers had not been submitted to the England Football Association on time.

'The Black Cats' got the benefit of the doubt from the Premier League over signing the 31-year-old even though they failed to process the required paperwork before Monday's 1700 GMT transfer deadline.

Former Manchester United defender Bruce, whose side have been in free-fall after a winless run of 11 games, had blamed technical problems for the delay.

Benjani, scorer of 29 goals in 43 international appearances, is a free agent in the summer but Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said he can move on 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 his forwards had once gain failed to make an impression in Monday's 0-0 draw with Stoke. Benjani earned his move to City after shining for Portsmouth, where he had scored 19 times in 70 appearances, in January 2008. However, his time at Eastlands had been blighted by several injuries and falling out of favour with Mancini's predecessor Mark Hughes, although, he fought his way back into the first team when the Italian Mancini replaced the Welshman at the helm.

A relieved Bruce last night expressed his delight at finally getting his man.

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

After the arrival of defenders Matthew Kilgallon and Alan Hutton from Sheffield United and Tottenham respectively, Benjani is the third addition to Bruce's squad during the transfer window.

"He's a big, strong, powerful centre forward and one we've been tracking for a long time," said Bruce.

"He'll bring another dimension to our striking options."

He will compete with Kenwyne Jones and Fraizer Campbell for a role alongside top-scorer Darren Bent.

Despite their recent run of poor form, Sunderland have scored more goals than any other side in the bottom half of the table.

But they have been largely reliant on Bent who has scored 14 of their 30 goals, including four of their last five.

Since joining City from Portsmouth, Benjani spent long spells on the sidelines with injury and struggled to establish himself in the first team, starting only 21 games in two years.

His arrival at Eastlands also required Premier League confirmation with City attempting to pull out of the deal in its final stage because of concerns over a knee injury suffered by the forward in 2006.

But the Premier League disagreed with City's claim that Benjani had not signed off on his move before a midnight deadline, ruling that the move had been completed.

He scored on his debut as City recorded a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, but a thigh injury meant he missed the start of the following season.

After working his way back to fitness by November, a hamstring problem suffered in December meant he played only two more matches before the end of the season. The Zimbabwe captain had become a peripheral member of Mancini's squad this season, making three starts and three substitute appearances.

Manchester City paid an initial £3,87m for the forward's services, but he has left the club well short of the 75 senior starts that would have brought the total fee payable to previous club Portsmouth up to £7.6m.

While Benjani was completing his move to Sunderland, there was no such luck for his fellow Warriors international and defender Onismor Bhasera.

Bhasera has failed to complete his move to Sheffield Wednesday after failing a medical test.

Kaizer Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung broke the news to KickOff.com yesterday.

Bhasera was on the verge of signing for Sheffield after Amakhosi agreed a deal with the Championship club over the weekend.

However, Motaung told KickOff.com that the move is off.

"Bhasera failed a medical test.

"They discovered that he has an injury, which has something to do with his knee. I don't know where he got it, maybe from one of the teams like Portsmouth that he's been training with (since leaving Chiefs at the end of last season)," Motaung said.

Motaung however, said they had not yet spoken to the former Harare United and Maritzburg United left back.

"We haven't spoken to him. He's been listening to the wrong people. He went to Portsmouth, but they didn't have money and he's lost out because he's been doing the wrong things.

"Look, that (Richard) Gomes guy was saying a lot of things about Chiefs and in the end Bhasera said he is not even his agent. Players must be honest, because Chiefs will never block players from moving but things must be done right," Motaung said.

Bhasera, is understood to be still in England.