A remarkable Championship campaign has led to the return of Sunderland to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016/17 season, and the club have now secured a major boost to their chances in the top-flight.
The Black Cats earned promotion thanks to a last-minute winner in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium against Sheffield United.
Regis Le Bris’ team will need a productive transfer window after watching all three of the newly promoted sides suffer an instant return to the Championship in 2025.
They have announced the first of their summer arrivals, which is a coup for the club.
Late Shows Ensure Sunderland Return to The Nation’s Top Table
Sheffield United entered the play-offs as the favourites, having narrowly missed out on an automatic promotion place, but the Blades were undone with a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Tom Watson.
Chris Wilder and co. will be disappointed having led until the 75th minute, but they were not the only side to be undone by the never-say-die attitude of this Sunderland team.
Coventry City were left shocked by a late winner from Eliezer Mayenda in the first leg of the play-off semi-final.
Frank Lampard’s outfit managed to bring the tie to extra-time, but yet another late winner, this time from Dan Ballard, ensured the Black Cats would be the team taking their place in the Championship’s showpiece event.
A key player in each of these victories was AS Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee. The midfielder provided an assist in each of the semi-final ties and was instrumental in the build-up to the equaliser in the showpiece against Sheffield United.
Four-Year Deal For French Midfielder
Sunderland have now officially announced that the player has agreed to join the newly-promoted Premier League team on a four-year deal after a successful loan spell.
The former France under-21 international had been one of the better midfielders in Ligue 1 before joining AS Roma and was a key component of the Black Cats’ squad in the second half of the campaign.
Le Fee played in a variety of roles but was at his best in an advanced left-sided position. He ranked in the top three at the club for interceptions and tackles per game after joining in the winter transfer window.
His average of 1.6 key passes per game was a club-leading statistic of all players that made more than five appearances, and the news that he will re-join on a permanent basis is a major boost for Sunderland ahead of their return to the top-flight.
The versatile star is undoubtedly talented enough to play at this level, and the player is looking forward to testing himself at this level, telling the club’s official website:
“I said before the Play-Off Final that my heart was in Sunderland – I wanted to stay, and this made it the most important game of my life.
“Together, we did it.
“From the moment I arrived, I have enjoyed my football, my teammates, and our supporters.
“We shared an incredible experience, and now we get to take the next step.
“There are greater challenges ahead, but we must face them together, and I can’t wait to play for Sunderland in the Premier League.”
