Sunderland unearthed a gem in 2024 in Chris Rigg, with Tommy Watson following in his tracks too. But 2025 could see a new name burst onto the scene for the Black Cats.
Sunderland’s academy has really become a focal point for the club during Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ reign at the club, with the Black Cats’ first-team boasting a handful of academy products.
Anthony Patterson and Dan Neil are the more established names. But both Chris Rigg and Tommy Watson have really improved Regis Le Bris’ squad this season.
Rigg in particular has been a revelation for the Black Cats. The Sunderland gem has been so impressive that Real Madrid and Manchester United have made checks on Rigg, though right now, the 17-year-old faces a spell on the sidelines.
Rigg will return in early 2025. Sunderland have big ambitions for the next year with promotion in their sights, though Le Bris and co won’t get distracted from the bigger picture.
More youngsters will come off the production line and one has been tipped to make a real impact.
James Copley makes Trey Ogunsuyi prediction at Sunderland
Sunderland’s academy Trey Ogunsuyi has been getting a lot of people talking this season, despite having yet to play for the first-team.
Reports earlier in the season revealed that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Ogunsuyi at Sunderland.
Sunderland fans want to see Ogunsuyi play in the Championship, or at least for the first-team in the upcoming FA Cup clash against Stoke City, though whether Le Bris selects him remains to be seen.
Speaking on The Roar, journalist James Copley has backed Ogunsuyi to make a breakthrough in 2025, suggesting the 18-year-old could be the ‘next Chris Rigg’.
Copley said: “I think he could be the next big thing at Sunderland, in terms of; the next Chris Rigg, the next Tommy Watson.
“Depending on where Sunderland are come the end of the season, I think you could see him get his first minutes of the campaign… similarly to Watson maybe, towards the back end of last season.”
Copley later added: “I can’t see him starting anytime soon, for obvious reasons, unless there’s a worsening of Sunderland’s injury crisis. But he’s certainly one to watch.”
Sunderland’s stance on Liverpool target Trey Ogunsuyi is clear ahead of January
Liverpool have been linked with Ogunsuyi in the past, then being linked again earlier in this 2024/25 campaign.
The Reds clearly like the striker. But it’s since been revealed that Sunderland will reject any bids for Ogunsuyi in the January transfer window.
It seems clear that the club have high hopes for the striker who, like Copley says, could well be the next Sunderland academy gem to make a real impact in the first-team.
If Sunderland can secure their top six spot early, or if they fall out of contention, then names like Ogunsuyi could get some minutes at the end of the season.