Sunderland pride themselves on their academy, which has produced some of the country’s most exciting young talents in the last couple of years.
It can’t be denied that Sunderland have a very exciting squad, one full of potential, and one that could net the owners a lot of money in years to come.
But Kyril Louis-Dreyfus runs a right ship at the Stadium of Light. He doesn’t cash in at the first sign of money as Brighton’s deadline day pursuit of Tommy Watson proves.
There’ll come a time though when Sunderland do cash in. Names like Chris Rigg who’s come out of the academy has been linked with £20million moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs, whilst fellow academy graduate Watson was subject of a £13million Brighton bid.
Expect more names to come through the ranks and into the first-team in years to come, with Regis Le Bris a manager with a track record of working with and developing younger players.
- READ MORE: How Sunderland ace Tommy Watson really felt about Brighton’s deadline day interest revealed
Mason Cotcher shows Sunderland what they’re missing with fine form in 2024/25
One Sunderland academy gem who could go on to big things is Mason Cotcher. The 18-year-old left Sunderland for Aston Villa earlier this season, and it’s proved to be a fruitful move since.
Cotcher last played for Sunderland’s academy in 2023, signing for Aston Villa in 2024 after rejecting the offer of a professional contract at the Stadium of Light.
Since moving to Villa Park, the attacking midfielder has scored 11 and assisted five more in 21 total games, playing for the club’s U18s, U19s, and even the U21s.
Most recently, Cotcher inspired a 3-2 comeback win against Bristol City in the FA Cup, scoring all three goals as Villa’s U18s move into the quarter-finals of the competition.
Sunderland must avoid Mason Cotcher mistake with this academy star
Fans often have an eye on academy results and players, and many are talking about Trey Ogunsuyi.
The young Belgian striker is turning heads at the Academy of Light, so much so that Liverpool have been linked with the 18-year-old frontman.
Striker options remain somewhat light in the Sunderland first-team. With Jayden Danns injured for a couple of weeks, it could be a good chance for Le Bris to give Ogunsuyi some first-team exposure.
Even if it’s just games sitting on the bench, it shows Ogunsuyi that there’s a pathway for him on Wearside, and it could deter anymore players from leaving at a young age, like Cotcher, and fulfilling their potential and value at another club.