Sunderland have secured a fresh player agreement in what will come as a blow to previous manager target Will Still at RC Lens.
Sunderland are nearing the start of the 2024/25 Championship season and with it comes the start of a new chapter under head coach Regis Le Bris.
The Frenchman arrived in June following a four-month search process to find Michael Beale’s permanent successor at the Stadium of Light.
Since, Sunderland have brought in two new players in Alan Browne and Simon Moore, who’ve both signed on free transfers.
Sunderland are trying to sign Alexandre Mendy from Caen right now. The latest on this front is front comes from Michael Graham who says he’d be surprised to see Sunderland not formalise a deal for the Caen striker this summer.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sunderland posted a cryptic teaser on social media and many fans believed it would proceed an announcement that Mendy has signed for the club.
But it turned out to be a new contract for Dan Ballard.
Dan Ballard signs new Sunderland contract in blow to Will Still at RC Lens
Sunderland announced on Tuesday afternoon that Ballard, 24, has signed a one-year extension with the club, committing his future until 2028.
It comes after reports that previous Sunderland manager target Will Still wants to bring Ballard to RC Lens this summer.
Still was heavily linked with the Sunderland job but pulled out of the running, eventually becoming manger of RC Lens in Ligue 1.
Ballard has made 66 first-team appearances for Sunderland following his reported £2million move from Arsenal in the summer of 2022.
Sunderland deserve huge praise for one thing after Dan Ballard new contract
Not only is Ballard signing a one-year extension great for Sunderland amid news that Still wants him at RC Lens, but it also shows Black Cats’ unwavering faith in their young stars.
Ballard is currently injured and set to miss the start of next season. But the fact that Sunderland have offered him a new contract shows their faith in the player and the potential he has.
Sunderland did the same with Aji Alese last season, with the player signing a new contract despite having been injured for several weeks.
The decision to offer Ballard a new contract will also look great for Sunderland in the transfer market when they try to sign new players, with youngsters like Ballard no doubt seeing Sunderland and their faith in youth as a huge positive.
Nearly all of Sunderland’s first-team players, and the ones in demand, are nuder longer-term deals.