Sunderland have been told that they had no chance to ‘compete’ with a Premier League club after confirming the exit of an academy product.
Sunderland have seen so many talented youngsters move on from their academies over the years, while the likes of Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford have most notably enjoyed highly successful careers.
The most recent young prospect to leave Wearside is Josh Robertson, who has been confirmed to have left Sunderland to join Brighton & Hove Albion on deadline day.
It was reported earlier today that the 18-year-old was travelling to the south coast as a deal was being finalised, and the club have now confirmed he has brought his ten-year stay at the academy to an end.
Academy Manager Robin Nicholls said: “Josh’s scholarship was due to expire at the end of this season and after indicating that he did not wish to commit his future to SAFC, we reluctantly accepted to pursue the next-best solution for the Club and the player.
“We are disappointed that Josh will be departing the group, as he is a player with potential that we hoped could eventually progress into our senior team, but we wish him well for the future and are proud to have played an integral role in his development.”
How do Sunderland compete with the Premier League?
Journalist James Copley has since reacted to the news, after previously admitting it was a ‘blow’ to be losing such a ‘talented player’.
Copley wrote: “Massive shame this. Wishing him the best of luck.”
He then added: “Very hard to pin this one on the club, who would have happily kept him. Hard to compete against the set-up at Brighton. Player sounds like he wanted to go too.”
It’s clearly a loss to Sunderland’s academy, but there is no doubt that it is incredibly difficult to compete with a club in the Premier League – especially one who has worked so well with their youngsters like Brighton has.