Darren Bent has signed a two-year contract with Derby County after being released by Aston Villa.
Bent, 31, joined Villa from Sunderland for £18 million in 2011, but played just 61 Premier League games for the club in four seasons while scoring 21 times.
The forward scored the goals to help keep Villa in the Premier League in the 2011-12 season, but he subsequently fell out of favour with former manager Paul Lambert.
The England international went on spent time on loan at Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Derby during his time at Villa Park, with new Villa coach Tim Sherwood deciding to release the striker on Monday.
Bent scored 10 goals in 15 Championship games while on loan at Derby during the second half of the 2014-15 campaign, and has now secured a permanent two-year deal with the option of a third year.
Derby coach Paul Clement told the club's official website: "Darren Bent is a proven goal scorer and that was something he proved during his loan spell with the club last season.
"He is going to be key in our plans to move forward."
VINE: Darren Bent puts pen-to-paper at #DCFC this afternoon https://t.co/Bv57k12JDG
- Derby County (@dcfcofficial) June 8, 2015
The Championship side also announced the signing of signed Republic of Ireland international defender Alex Pearce ahead of the expiry of his contract at Reading.
Clement said of the 26-year-old: "Alex Pearce is an experienced central defender and we're very pleased to have him signed.
"He is strong, physical and an international footballer as well so he has lot of good qualities."
