Sunderland lose nine players after promotion to the Premier League

English football club Sunderland recently announced that they will let nine players leave the team before the start of the new season. This is an important personnel adjustment following their successful promotion to the Premier League.

Sunderland returned to England’s top flight last season after defeating Sheffield United in the playoffs. The team had not appeared in the Premier League for many years since being relegated in 2017. Their return has brought them back into the spotlight of fans.

To prepare for the new season, Sunderland has already signed new players in the transfer market. The most notable signing is French winger Enzo Le Fie. The 25-year-old previously spent time on loan at Sunderland from Roma, where he impressed. He has now joined the club on a four-year contract, becoming their first signing of the summer.

However, with new arrivals come departures. While bringing in new players, Sunderland has also parted ways with nine players. Among them are two players whose loan spells have come to an end: Chris Mepham and Salis Abdul Samed. The former came from Bournemouth, while the latter belongs to Lens. Both players featured regularly for Sunderland last season, with Mepham making 40 appearances and contributing significantly.

There was also a surprising departure—Tommy Watson left the team. The 19-year-old forward scored the decisive goal in the playoff final, helping the team secure promotion. However, he moved to Brighton this summer for £10 million. The deal was confirmed as early as April.

Additionally, several young players have chosen to leave. These include Ben Crampton, Kuba Mitchell, Caden Kelly, and Kelechi Chibueze. Aaron Chong and Daniel Parker will also no longer be playing for Sunderland.

However, some young players have stayed. The club has signed new contracts with Ben Middlemass, Oliver Bambridge, Marshall Burke, and Daniel Cameron. Ethan Moore and Timur Tutirov have also been offered contract extensions.

It is worth mentioning that the future of Joe Bellingham is also attracting a lot of attention.
The young player has attracted interest from both Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt. If he ultimately transfers, Sunderland could receive approximately £25 million. His brother, Jude Bellingham, also transferred from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund a few years ago.

In addition, Sunderland captain Daniel has received an offer from Italian Serie A club Roma.
It is reported that Roma is willing to pay £15 million to sign him. This news has surprised many people.

Overall, after successfully promotion to the Premier League, Sunderland is actively adjusting its lineup. They have not only signed new players, but also sent away some old ones. Next, how the team integrates its resources and adapts to the pace of the Premier League will be a major challenge for them.