Emerson Thome needed less than two hours to decide to walk out on Chelsea yesterday.

The Brazilian defender leaped at the chance to join Sunderland in a club record £4.5m deal.

Thome was determined to quit Stamford Bridge after being axed by manager Gianluca Vialli at the weekend.

The 28-year-old centre-back, upset at losing his place again to Frank Leboeuf, signed a £1m-a-year contract which will keep him at Sunderland until 2004. Vialli snapped up Winston Bogarde - linked with a free transfer move to Newcastle last week - which paved the way for Thome's departure.

Thome, who spent only eight months at Chelsea after a £2.7m switch from Sheffield Wednesday, will be unveiled by Sunderland manager Peter Reid this morning.

The player said last night: "I'm just pleased to be joining Sunderland. They're an exciting club with a big future. I was thrilled when I hear that Peter Reid had made an approach for me.

"The Stadium of Light is a beautiful stadium which I played in last season before it was extended.

"There was a magnificent atmosphere, so I can only imagine what it must be like now.

"When playing in England, you hear about the terrific passion for football in the North-East and I have seen how the Sunderland fans get behind the team. I'm really looking forward to being a part of it.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I intend to give Sunderland as much as I've given to my previous clubs."

Thome will make his debut against West Ham at the Stadium of Light next Tuesday, along with £3.5m Argentinian teenager Julio Arca.

Reid wants to link Thome with summer signing Stanislav Varga, who made a massive impact before suffering a knee injury that will keep him out for six weeks.

The Brazilian's arrival follows Reid's failure to land Aston Villa's Ugo Ehiogu and means former Arsenal star Steve Bould will no longer be an automatic choice at Sunderland.

Thome will also restrict the first team chances of Paul Butler and Jody Craddock. One of them is likely to leave when Varga returns to action.

Arca, 19, virtually booked his Premiership debut with an impressive performance for Reid's reserves in a midweek friendly against Chester-le-Street.

Meanwhile, Reid is giving a trial to another youngster - Paris St Germain's 19-year-old midfielder Nicolas Fabiano.

Sunderland completed another signing yesterday when Kevin Richardson joined the club's coaching staff. Richardson, who will take charge of the under-17s, was one of Reid's team-mates at Everton during the 1980's.

l Holland international Winston Bogarde yesterday declared it was Chelsea's title-winning credentials which proved the key to him turning down several other offers as he joined the Blues on a free transfer from Barcelona.

The 29-year-old centre-back, who can also play on the left flank, arrived at Stamford Bridge on a four-year deal amid a defensive reshuffle which also saw Emerson Thome sold to Sunderland for £4.5m.

And while Chelsea thereby increased their Dutch contingent to four along with Ed de Goey, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Melchiot the move has also placed greater pressure on Frank Leboeuf's place in the side.

In the wake of their capture of Italian international Christian Panucci, initially on loan with a view to a permanent deal, Chelsea have yet again shown their ability to move quickly in the transfer market though.

In acquiring Bogarde, who had been linked with a number of other clubs, Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli has nevertheless acquired yet another player who has won both domestic and European titles.

Bogarde, as now seems customary, declared his intention to awaken a ''sleeping giant'' and insisted his ''ultimate dream had come true a move to England with Chelsea''.

He said: ''I leave Barcelona on exceptionally good terms after two-and-a-half great years at the Nou Camp in which the team and I enjoyed championship and cup success. There were a number of other clubs interested in me but I believe Chelsea have got a team that can win the Premiership and that made them the most attractive option.''

He added: ''I'm really looking forward to joining up with my new Chelsea team-mates and getting my career back on track after a difficult last couple of months in Spain.

''When I said that I believe Chelsea can win the Premiership this season I meant it. They have enormous quality right throughout their team and hopefully I can become a valuable part of that.''