THE PLEASURE WAS OURS, DENNIS

Dennis Cirkin has sadly confirmed that he will be leaving Sunderland AFC following the expiry of his contract. After joining the club in League One as a teenager, without a single senior appearance to his name, he went on to represent the Lads over a hundred times, scoring eight goals and playing a fundamental role in the club's return to the top flight. He’s also looked every bit a Premier League footballer this season, when he has managed to play, and possibly holds the record for being the only player to have scored a goal for Sunderland whilst being simultaneously knocked unconscious.

Joining the club in August 2021, at the age of 19, Cirkin’s signing was a perfect example of the club’s new recruitment strategy at the time, signing young, hungry and versatile players for a minimal fee and giving them the opportunity to thrive in a first team environment. He came into the side immediately, starting two away games in the space of three days as we beat Milton Keynes Dons before a defeat at Burton Albion. He went on to make 41 appearances in all competitions that season. He was clearly nervous and struggled to settle in his first few appearances but was so composed by the end of the season that he was one of the only young members of the squad who Alex Neil trusted to play, even playing as a centre back in a back three towards the end on many occasions. Despite missing the last three games of that season with injury, the Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate played every minute of our play-off campaign as we finally clinched promotion back to the Championship. The defender later shared a post on social media revealing that his father had passed away in January 2021, making that day at Wembley, and his own personal success, that season particularly emotional for him.

Cirkin’s second season (and our first back in the second tier after four years in League One) started as the previous one had finished. He established himself as our first choice in the left of a back three, as we started life in the Championship in great form, playing almost every minute of our opening eight games. Injuries meant he came in and out of the side but he played some great football when fit and was a key element of that Tony Mowbray side, which played some of the most entertaining and free-flowing attacking football we’ve ever seen at Sunderland. He even managed to score his first goal for the Lads in this season, heading home the winner at home to Wigan Athletic, after setting up Elliot Embleton for the first. He then scored his second for the club away at Milwall, having come off the bench after missing out on the last four games with an injury. Again, he headed home, this time an equaliser to clinch us a good point at The Den, and this time being knocked unconscious in the process, taking a fist to the jaw from The Lions’ goalkeeper as he attempted to clear the ball. As a side note, this game saw us play with three different players at left back in the space of 18 minutes. Cirkin replaced Aji Alese, before Joe Anderson made his Sunderland debut, replacing Cirkin, as Dennis struggled to come to terms with why he’d woken up at the side of the pitch, having no recollection of coming on and scoring the goal.

A particular highlight from that season was netting a brace away at West Bromwich Albion, in particular the second goal. He headed us level with the first, and linked up beautifully with Alex Pritchard and Edouard Michut, before toe-poking home the winner and clinching us a vital three points in our late play-off charge. Despite a great season, our number three was unfortunately ruled out of the play-offs as we were defeated by Luton Town, meaning Lynden Gooch somehow ended up playing at centre back, alongside Luke O’Nien and Trai Hume. Much like the season in general, the next was a one to forget for Cirkin, only managing eight games, as we finished 16th, as a hamstring injury, followed by surgery, plagued his campaign.

The following campaign, however, would be one of his best as he was instrumental in our return to the Premier League. He scored the first goal at the Stadium of Light that season, as another headed goal opened the scoring, before we went on to beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-0. He went on to play every minute of our opening 15 games, culminating in one of the best long-range strikes the SoL has ever seen. Having won the ball in his own half and then playing a one-two with, childhood friend and fellow Spurs academy graduate, Romaine Mundle, Cirkin charged forward and thundered the ball into the back of the net from around 25 yards out. Injuries meant his start on the final day of the season, against Queens Park Rangers, was his only of the last eight games but it still must have been enough to have the Dublin-born defender fit and raring for the play-offs. He played every minute away to Coventry City and played his part in one of the most well-organised team displays we have ever seen as Sunderland fans, leaving the Midlands with our first victory over The Sky Blues in eighteen years and ten attempts. He then valiantly battled for 120 minutes as we took on Frank Lampard’s side at home, only coming off the bench for Leo Hjelde, seconds before Enzo Le Fee’s famous corner as we were moments away from penalties. You know the rest.

May 24th 2025 will forever be Dennis Cirkin’s legacy as a Sunderland player. He played the full game as we came from behind to overcome Sheffield United, at the home of English football, and returned to the Premier League after an eight year absence. There is something incredibly special about joining a club as a boy, as a fallen giant struggled to get out of the third division of English football, and leaving as a man, having won two promotions at Wembley and brought them back to the Premier League, where they belong, and this is how we will remember Dennis Cirkin. The following summer saw the signings of Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku, as well as wrist surgery for our beloved Dennis. The writing looked on the wall as we surmised that we’d never see Cirkin in the Premier League but Dennis battled his way back to full fitness (as he has had to do so many times) and made his Premier League debut at home to Leeds United in late December.

Much like his actual debut, many fans were left debating whether he’d be good enough at this level after an unconvincing debut in the Premier League. With the aforementioned full backs away at the Africa Cup of Nations however, Regis Le Bris appeared to have no choice but to start him once more as we took on Manchester City on New Years' Day. What followed was a sensational performance as Cirkin kept out the array of attacking talents that Man City posses, was a threat going forward and, much like fellow League One signing Trai Hume, made a strong case for the Man of the Match award that day. He more than played his part last season as we clinched Europa League football, featuring in every single game over the AFCON period, when numbers were depleted, even coming on away to West Ham United at half time as Le Bris hooked Reinildo off, after an uncharacteristic poor first half, in an attempt to change the game.

He then, unfortunately, picked up more injuries in March, at a time which would have probably seen him play, given that he managed to be sidelined at the same time as the aforementioned Reinildo in March. Since said substitute appearance against West Ham, he has been limited to just 23 minutes and two substitute appearances. The writing appears to have been on the wall for some time, as a lack of minutes, combined with no news on contract negotiations, meant it seemed a fairly obvious conclusion that this season would be his last for Sunderland. Whether it be his injury record or just contract complications, we’re not to know why a deal wasn’t able to be arranged which suited the club and the player. What we do know is that Dennis Cirkin will forever be remembered as one of the key figures in this great club’s resurgence and we are forever indebted to his commitment over the last five years and his incredible hard work to return this club to the Premier League. He will forever be welcomed with open arms back on Wearside and I’m sure I speak for us all when I say we wish him nothing but the best for the future. Thank you Dennis, the pleasure was ours.