CONNOR Wickham last night insisted he is capable of handling the pressure that will accompany his big-money move to Sunderland.

After a whirlwind 24 hours of negotiations, Wickham signed a four-year deal yesterday afternoon to become the joint third most expensive teenager in the history of British football.

The 18-year-old moves to the Stadium of Light for an initial fee of £8.1m, but a number of clauses related to appearances, goals and international appearances could eventually see the final price rise as high as £12m.

After Ipswich accepted Sunderland’s offer earlier this week, Wickham travelled to Wearside late on Tuesday evening.

He passed a medical yesterday morning, and with Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn and boss Steve Bruce adopting a hands-on role in negotiations, quickly agreed personal terms at the Academy of Light.

That enabled Sunderland to ward off competing interest from Liverpool, who refused to match the Black Cats’ offer for the England Under-21 international.

As a result, Wickham is set to make his first Premier League appearance as a Sunderland player when the Wearsiders visit Anfield on the opening weekend of the season.

He is set to partner Asamoah Gyan in the Black Cats’ first-choice line up, and while he has only scored 15 senior goals in the whole of his career, he is adamant he will not be fazed by the expectation that will now be placed on his shoulders.

“I’ve always been confident in myself and my ability, and I know what I can do and what I’m capable of,” said Wickham, who was also the subject of interest from Arsenal and Tottenham in the second half of last season.

“Coming to a club like this, hopefully I can carry on doing what I’ve been doing and keep doing it here.

“I’ve got the right people around me to help me out and keep my feet on the floor, and I think I’ll settle in well round here and get to know the area and the people, the rest of the boys and the club. I think it’ll go really well.

“Once the fee was agreed and I met up with the manager, he basically told me all about the club and the ambitions and it was sold to me. Now that everything has been done and dusted, I just can’t wait to get started.”

Wickham only made his professional debut in April 2009, but the teenager will start next season as the third most expensive player in Sunderland’s history.

He has been given an extra week’s holiday after representing England Under-21s in Denmark this summer, but should feature in the Black Cats’ pre-season tour of Germany.

He will provide some of the attacking firepower that Sunderland lacked after Darren Bent joined Aston Villa, with his 6ft 3in frame providing a different outlet to anything else at Bruce’s disposal.

“It’s a relief to get it finished,” said Wickham. “A weight’s been lifted off my shoulders and I can get on with playing football. I know where I’m going to be next season and I’m looking forward to getting back to training and meeting the boys.

“I know Jack (Colback) from Ipswich, Billy Knott from England games, and Lewis Laing and a couple of the younger boys as well.

“I’m sure I’ll get to know the rest of the boys pretty quickly. The quicker I get to know the boys and the quicker the bond builds up, then everything will run smoothly.”

Having sold Bent and Jordan Henderson in the last six months, Bruce is delighted to have captured one of the most talked-about talents in the English game.

Bruce said: “A number of top sides have been chasing Connor for some time now, so naturally we are absolutely delighted he has chosen to come to Sunderland.

“He’s still very young but at 6ft 3in, he’s a physical presence. With his height and style of play, he’ll offer us a threat in front of goal and complement our existing strikers.

“We have been watching him for a while now and he is improving and developing all the time. He’s a great prospect and I’m sure our supporters will love watching him play.”

To continue a hectic few days on Wearside, Craig Gardner is expected to complete his £5m move from Birmingham City before the weekend.

Seb Larsson and Kieren Westwood will also be formally confirmed as Sunderland players tomorrow after agreeing to sign as free agents earlier this month.

Wickham’s arrival signals the end of Bruce’s pursuit of David Ngog, however, as the Liverpool striker became a back-up option as soon as Wickham signalled a desire to move to Wearside.

In an unrelated development, Bruce has also pulled out of his pursuit of Charles N’Zogbia, with the Wigan midfielder seemingly set on a move to Aston Villa.

N’Zogbia has refused to reduce his wage demands, which are understood to be around £65,000-a-week, and Sunderland are unwilling to invest so much money in just one player.

Villa will be prepared to match his demands, however, if, as expected, Stewart Downing completes a £20m move to Liverpool.