SIMON ADINGRA: WHO ARE YOU?

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of left winger Simon Adingra from Brighton and Hove Albion. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international joins on a five-year deal for £18 million upfront plus £2.5 million in add-ons. Here’s a recap of his career so far:

Born in Abdijan, Ivory Coast on New Years’ Day 2002, Simon Adingra started out in football at the Right to Dream academy in Ghana before moving to FC Nordsjælland’s academy in 2020. In the following year he made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Copenhagen, coming off of the bench and scoring his sides’ second goal. The 2021-22 season was his first one regularly featuring in a first team as he played 33 games and managed 10 goals plus three assists. 

In summer 2022 he went to Brighton and was quickly sent out on loan to Belgium with Union SG, where he became a regular. In total he featured 51 times in all competitions, scoring 15 and assisting 14, including games in the Europa League.

Upon his return to England he was a regular sight for Brighton, recording 40 appearances in 2023-24, with seven goals and three assists. Notable goals included one against Ajax in the EL, against Liverpool in the Premier League and two in the same match versus Sheffield United following a very successful AFCON.

Last season he played a further 33 times, registering five goals and another two assists. There was another goal versus Liverpool, this time around in the EFL Cup, and he found the back of the net in an opening day victory at Goodison Park.

Internationally, he’s already had a very successful career with Ivory Coast, earning 22 caps with three goals and five assists total. He helped his team to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, being awarded the Best Young Player for the tournament. He was crucial to his country lifting the trophy, scoring a last minute equaliser against Mali to take the game to extra time in the quarter final before assisting both goals for his nation in the final versus Nigeria as they came back from behind in the final hour.

Primarily playing as a left winger, he is also able to play on the other wing and slightly deeper on the left as a left sided midfielder. There is of course a strong likelihood he will travel to AFCON again with his country midway through the upcoming campaign.