Sunderland have already made their first signing of the summer following promotion to the Premier League.
Sunderland came from behind to pull off a historic 2-1 win against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
Tyrese Campbell gave the Blades the lead in the first half, and the Yorkshire outfit thought they had a second when Harrison Burrows smashed home from range, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) adjudged the goal to be offside, and it remained 1-0.
Despite an onslaught of Sheffield United pressure, the Black Cats remained resolute and equalised through Eliezer Mayenda with 12 minutes to play.
As the game headed to extra time, 19-year-old Tom Watson took advantage of Kieffer Moore’s misplaced pass before curling a right-footed shot past Michael Cooper and, with it, securing Sunderland promotion to the Premier League, where they will join the already-promoted Leeds United and Burnley.
Sunderland have been promoted to the Premier League (Credit:Getty)
The strike was Watson’s last act as a Sunderland player as he has already agreed to join Brighton ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
But the Wearside club have completed a transfer of their own.
25-year-old French midfielder Enzo Le Fee was loaned to Sunderland from Serie A side Roma during the winter transfer window and has since made 28 appearances.
In January, journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that there was a mandatory obligation to buy in the deal, worth €23/24m, which would be triggered if Sunderland were promoted.
So, the deal will be made permanent.
Le Fee has an emotional backstory and has suffered hardship throughout his life, something he opened up about during an interview with The Times earlier this week.
The Frenchman found his father’s body lying on a bed after he had committed suicide, but still trained without telling anyone when he was just 20 years old.
Enzo Le Fee’s loan deal will be made permanent (Credit:Getty)
“From when I was eight to 12 and after 14 to 20, I think, I would visit him in prison,” Le Fee explained when talking about his father.
“Normally I train but every Wednesday, I would go to the prison to see him. At 18, I started to see him alone.”
He added: “It was Wednesday and I found my dad in his bed.
“The day after I have to go to the police because they have to ask me something, and I said, ‘No, I can’t, I have to train’. The day after, again, I train, and the day after we play against Lens, away, and the coach didn’t know.
“He knew only one hour before the game when my grandfather called him, and he says it’s crazy that I didn’t say something. In the dressing room, nobody knew. I am like, my problem is my problem. I think it’s because of this, now I can speak. Now I am free.”
