GEERTRUIDA SIGNS

Sunderland have announced the signing of defender Lutsharel Geertruida, subject to international clearance, from RB Leipzig.

The initial deal is a year-long loan but reports suggest that there is an option to buy the Dutchman in the summer.

Geertruida said: “First of all, I want to thank God for this opportunity, and I also want to thank the Club for their trust in me. I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League, and I’m so excited now that my opportunity is here. We are new to the league, so we need to fight, and I want to be a part of that. I’ve seen the recent games and think the group looks fresh and energetic. Now, I just want to be as important as possible for this Club. I’m ready, and I can’t wait to see the fans in the stadium.”

Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman added: “We are delighted that Lutsharel has joined us for the 2025-26 season. He was extremely motivated by our proposal from the very beginning, and the opportunity to bring such a high-calibre player to the Club on loan was a perfect fit for us. Competition for his signature was high, but the combination of our Club, city, and fan base ultimately made the difference.”