Sunderland are about to pull off one of their most exciting signings in recent history, and possibly a signing that gets them over the dotted line in the Championship this season, with Enzo Le Fee joining on loan from Roma.
Sunderland have worked quickly, and worked hard, to get a deal for Enzo Le Fee over the line. It’s not been made official just yet, but all the signs are pointing towards Le Fee joining on loan from Roma for the remainder of the season.
On Wednesday night, it was claimed that Le Fee to Sunderland was a done deal. But as ever, Black Cats fans won’t celebrate the move until Le Fee is pictured holding up a Sunderland shirt.
Still, it looks like it’s going to happen, and it’s an amazing signing for Regis Le Bris’ side who sit in 4th place of the Championship table as things stand, after Sunderland beat Portsmouth 1-0 in their previous game.
Le Fee will bolster an already quality midfield department at Sunderland boasting the likes of Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg, and more.
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How much will Sunderland have to pay to sign Enzo Le Fee permanently?
It’s been revealed that Sunderland will be signing Le Fee on loan with an obligation to buy the player in the event of promotion to the Premier League. It’s understood that Sunderland will just have the option should they miss out on promotion.
Sky Sports Italy have revealed that Le Fee’s move to the Stadium of Light is a ‘loan with a mandatory option of €23 million in the event of Sunderland’s promotion to the top English league’, or £19.23million.
That would smash not only Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ transfer record at the club, but the club’s overall transfer record. The 2016 signing of Didier Ndong from Lorient for £13.6million remains the Black Cats’ record signing.
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Fabrizio Romano confirms Sunderland set to sign Enzo Le Fee
Although the deal isn’t official just yet, it’s the closest thing to it after journalist Fabrizio Romano gave the move his trademark ‘here we go’, whilst also highlighting Le Bris’ crucial role in making the move happen.
Romano adds that Sunderland ‘are finalizing formal steps’ to making the move happen, suggesting that the deal is close to being complete but without putting a potential timeline on when Le Fee will become a Sunderland player.
It looks highly unlikely that he’ll arrive in time to feature against Stoke City in the FA Cup on Saturday, but possible that he’ll be available for the following Championship clash against Burnley.