‘HERE WE GO’: Sunderland AFC completes first summer signing immediately after promotion with £19m transfer- Medicals Scheduled For Next Week
Sunderland have already started building their squad for the Premier League
Sunderland have completed their first signing of the summer after clinching a dramatic promotion to the Premier League.
The Black Cats stunned Sheffield United in the Championship final at Wembley with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Blades in the play-off final at Wembley. Tommy Watson grabbed a 97th-minute winner after Sunderland had trailed for most of the match.
Eli Mayenda smashed home the equaliser after Keiffer Moore’s first-half opener for Sheffield United. It was then left to substitute Watson to step off the bench and calmly stroke home an injury time goal to send the Mackem fans into raptures.
Watson’s goal came with what will be his last touch in a red and white shirt. The winger has already completed a move to Brighton and Hove Albion – the move being announced last month – in a £10m transfer. Watson had been chased by Brighton in the January transfer window, with Sunderland eventually blocking the move but agreeing to it at the end of the campaign.
They will immediately reinvest that fee, however, in completing a permanent deal for Enzo Le Fee. The French midfielder moved to the Stadium of Light in January on loan from AS Roma but there was an obligation to buy if Sunderland got promoted.
Watson’s goal means that Sunderland have triggered the clause in Le Fee’s transfer and will need to pay £19.3m to the Italian side to make his stay on Wearside permanent.
Sunderland won’t be short of a few quid now that they are in the Premier League, however. A return to the top flight for the first time since 2017 will result in a financial windfall.
Financial experts estimate promotion to the Premier League to be worth around £200m at least, with guaranteed income regardless of how Sunderland fair next season. While this current season’s merit payments are yet to be confirmed, each side in the 2023-24 season received around £95m based on domestic and international TV deals and other commercial benefits.
Then there is a payment for the final league position, worth around £2.5-3m per place. Sheffield United made £109.7m despite finishing bottom of the table in 2024. Relegated sides will also receive parachute payments.
