Transfer deadline day always throws up some surprises, and the latest is that Simon Adingra could end up being a Sunderland player very soon.
Sunderland have had an interesting transfer window so far, but fans want more. And, if things go to plan with the potential sale of Tommy Watson, Simon Adingra could go the other way.
Of all the potential deals for Sunderland on deadline day, this situation feels like the most likely to play out successfully, and it would be a major coup for the Black Cats.
So, will we see Adingra join up with Regis Le Bris’ squad? What can we expect from him if so? And what other clubs have been linked with Adingra in the past? Here’s all you need to know.
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Simon Adingra’s career stats so far
He may only be 23-years-old, but Simon Adingra has already been around the world with his football, playing in Ghana, Denmark, Belgium, and England.
Adingra began his career in the Right to Dream academy in Ghana, before moving to Danish side Nordsjaelland and working his way through their youth ranks.
Brighton and Hove Albion continued their trend of signing upcoming unknown gems in 2022 when they snapped up Adingra in a £6.5m deal.
Having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise, Adingra returned to Brighton and has been a regular fixture for the Seagulls since.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 59 | 12 | 4 |
| Union SG | 51 | 15 | 15 |
| FC Nordsjaelland | 57 | 24 | 11 |
In the 2023/24 campaign, Adingra racked up seven goals and three assists across 40 appearances in all competitions for Brighton. This season, Adingra has five goals and one assist in 19 appearances so far.
Sunderland links and rumours with Simon Adingra
Simon Adingra emerged as a target for Sunderland on transfer deadline day, with the Black Cats wanting him involved in Brighton’s approach for Tommy Watson.
The Sunderland youngster is believed to have gone down to Brighton for a medical, but Watson will only leave if a replacement is found. Now, it seems Adingra is that replacement, with a loan to buy deal on the table.
Whether the deal happens or not remains to be seen, with Brighton expected to have to raise their offer for Watson if Adingra isn’t willing to go.
Interestingly, Adingra was linked with Arsenal last summer, with a reported £50m asking price on his head at that point. Obviously, that move didn’t go ahead, and now Adingra is in line for a very different transfer.
What is Simon Adingra’s market value and current salary?
As per Transfermarkt, Simon Adingra is currently worth €30m (£24.9m). That would appear to be on the higher end of his genuine valuation, though, at least if we consider that Tommy Watson is the subject of an offer of around £10m from Brighton.
Adingra is currently paid £12.5k per week at Brighton, with an annual salary of £650k (as per Capology). That puts him towards the lower end of Brighton’s wage bill, in line with Carlos Baleba, and just ahead of youngster Jack Hinshelwood.
His contract runs through to June 2026.
Simon Adingra age, weight, height
Adingra was born in Abodo in the Ivory Coast on January 1, 2002. That makes him 23-years-old at the time of writing.
He is 1.75m tall and weighs just 68kg, making him a rather diminutive, lightweight player.
What kind of player is Simon Adingra?
Simon Adingra primarily operates as a left-winger, though he can only play on the right side if needed. He is right-footed, so he usually prefers to cut in from the left.
He is a highly-effective dribbler, with tricky feet and a low centre of gravity making him a nightmare to deal with.
Adingra is also a great passer of the ball, often playing smart through balls to break the lines. He’s also not afraid to make the simple pass, though, and is really useful when you’re trying to keep possession.
Though small and not particularly physical, Adingra is surprisingly good at holding up the ball, and he also loves to get stuck in — if you’re looking for a winger who will chip in with defensive contributions, you could do far worse than Adingra.
While he plays a similar role to Tommy Watson, Adingra arguably brings more to the team than the Sunderland academy starlet in terms of work rate, but may have less of an individual impact when it comes to game-changing moments.
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Simon Adingra’s international career explained
Adingra made his international debut for his native Ivory Coast in January 2023 after an impressive start to the season with Brighton.
Since then, he has earned 14 caps for his country in total, scoring two goals. His first international goal came in his fourth appearance, during a African World Cup qualifier against the Seychelles in November 2023.
Adingra also scored in his last outing for the Ivory Coast, in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad last November.