Sunderland The team completed a jaw-dropping final game of 2025 with a 1-1 draw against Leeds United.

From a Black Cat perspective, it was truly a dream year, finally getting promoted to Premier League.

However, looking back, the Wearside giants have only just begun to achieve this astonishing feat, having lost four of their 18 top-flight games so far. Regis LebrisEntering 2026, men are ranked seventh.

Sunderland fans will be satisfied if their team stumbles to 17th place at the end of their first season back on top, as the stalwart Stadium of Light crowd will head into the New Year firmly in dreamland.

However, things are not entirely rosy on Wearside; Chris Rigg After his breakthrough under Le Bris, he is struggling to adapt to the pressure of the Premier League.

Rigg’s struggles at Sunderland

For an 18-year-old still finding his feet, Rigg does feel like he’s been in Sunderland’s senior squad for a while.

In fact, he was just 15 when Tony Mowbray scored his first goal in the FA Cup.

But while he had opportunities to shine here and there, it wasn’t until last season, under the watchful eye of LeBrice, that the homegrown talent truly became a consistent member of the first team.

Astonishingly, Rigg has featured in 45 Championship games under the Frenchman after just 21 league appearances last season, and making him a guaranteed starter has proven to be a brilliant move.

The 12-time England U19 international will score four goals and provide one assist as his side are crowned play-off champions and pundit Ian Darke says he will “Obviously playing in the Premier League”, Even if Sunderland didn’t gain passage to the Promised Land.

He was also named “Extraordinary” The brilliance of scout Ben Mattinson was further bolstered by the playoff final which saw him bravely earn two tackles and three duels for his boyhood employer.

Unfortunately for the teenage sensation, he hasn’t looked comfortable enough on such a grand stage, even though he had been hinted at moving to it. Manchester United, He only played 253 minutes, had zero goals and zero assists.

with Sunderland Reportedly ready to go Rigg may slip further down the pecking order after Ayub Bouadi strengthens his midfield staff.

However, given Le Bris’ track record with Rigg, they may well be better off bringing in another academy gem to back up his selection rather than spending more cash on the starlet who has been linked with Arsenal.

Sunderland is already brewing homegrown Bouaddi

Bouadi is indeed the talk of the town in the Premier League, with the 18-year-old heading into a chaotic January transfer window in which he has already been dubbed ” “World class” Designed by scout Jacek Kulig – on the shopping list for Gunners such as Chelsea and Mikel Arteta, keeping away from the ambitious Black Cats.

Lille’s golden boy has provided four assists in 74 senior games, making for a bold display from the much-talked about No. 32. Valued at £52m Slap on the top of his head.

Already a Champions League-level star at the age of 18, Bouadi is clearly set to make a major move in January as Sunderland hope they can compete with their ultra-rich rivals in an attempt to sign the player of his dreams.

However, they won’t be too pessimistic if they do fall short, with Harrison Jones performing equally well in midfield for the Black Cats at U21 level.

Like Bouadi, Jones is equally capable of playing as a central midfielder or as a No. 10 on the pitch, and he can also score 16 goals and 14 assists in 67 youth games and counting.

Six of the goals have come in just two Premier League games this season. The Sunderland-born player “diamond” True to the label youth team coach John Hewitson once labeled him, he continues to stand out as a classy youngster, just like his £52m counterpart.

He doesn’t have to cost a penny to break into the first-team picture, unlike having to break the bank to bring in Bouadi, something Sunderland have proven in the past when pushing the likes of Rigg into the men’s side, even if he disappointingly fell by the wayside after promotion was locked up.

Of course, Bouadi has endured tough pressure at the Premier League and beyond to justify such a hefty price tag, and has even played in nine Champions League games.

Still, it’s a bit of a stretch that Le Bris and Co. would be able to lure him to Wearside, as Jones is more than an excellent option, with the Frenchman often dropping him on the bench this season.

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