Sunderland loaned out midfielder Pierre Ekwah towards the end of the summer transfer window, sending him to France where he joined St Etienne for the 2024/25 season.
Pierre Ekwah joined Sunderland from West Ham in January 2023. The Frenchman was getting his first taste of senior football with the Black Cats, and he quickly impressed.
His first half season showed some real promise. But the 23-year-old couldn’t keep his momentum going into his first full season in the Championship, proving divisive in his 42 league outings in 2023/24.
Since moving to Ligue 1, Ekwah has shone with St Etienne. He’s played 17 times in Ligue 1 but Etienne are struggling as a team, falling into the relegation zone after a 2-0 defeat at home to Rennes in their last outing.
Etienne have won just one of their last 10 Ligue 1 games with Ekwah featuring in nine of them.
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Pierre Ekwah forced to speak out amid St Etienne poor form
Etienne were promoted from Ligue 2 last season after spending two seasons in Ligue 2. After a steady start to life back in the French top tier, Les Verts have since found the ging tough, and Ekwah has spoken out.
Following the defeat against Rennes and ahead of a tough away match at 2nd place Marseille on Saturday, Ekwah has sent a rallying cry to fans. Per Sport.FR, the Sunderland loan man wrote: “What I remember above all is that they are as disappointed as us but that they are fully behind us.
“At the next home game, they will be there. We are in the same boat. It was more of a message of strength, we take it like that anyway. We will fight for them, for us and for the green people because the green people must stay in Ligue 1.”
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Will St Etienne sign Pierre Ekwah from Sunderland in the summer?
Etienne have the option to buy Ekwah at the end of the season. Previous reports revealed that there’s a £6million option to buy Ekwah in the summer, though Etienne’s probable relegation could play a huge factor in whether they move for Ekwah.
Though it was previously revealed that Ekwah is open to staying at Etienne beyond this season. With the Sunderland midfield looking well-stocked, Ekwah might see gametime limited should he return in the summer.
Expect Regis Le Bris to want to take a look at Ekwah in the pre-season and to see how he’s developed as a player. He remains one with potential and if certain players leave in the summer, Ekwah could be viewed as a useful player.