Sunderland have confirmed that they are in transfer discussions with Lutsharel Geertruida over a permanent move.
Following the conclusion of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, which curtailed with Sunderland finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League, the Black Cats’ squad compilation for next term is taking place.
Already this summer, Dennis Cirkin has confirmed his exit from the Stadium of Light, after helping the club to promotion from League One to the Championship and then to the Premier League with 126 appearances.
Additionally, Cirkin’s fellow double-promotion hero and last season’s first-choice goalkeeper Anthony Patterson appears to be destined to say farewell to Sunderland, with several second tier clubs interested in his services.
Most recently, however, more exciting news in terms of potential additions has come to light, particularly in regards to last season’s RB Leipzig loanee Lutsharel Geertruida.
With the 2026 World Cup just days away, back on Wearside Sunderland outlined several departures in their retained list for next season, and also confirmed that discussions are ongoing with Geertruida in regards to a permanent deal.
Following his impressive season-long stint on loan from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, the vast majority of Sunderland supporters want to see the Black Cats exercise their option to sign Geertruida permanently, and will be excited by the club’s confirmation that talks are ongoing.
On Wednesday, Sunderland’s retained list stated: “The club can confirm it remains in discussions with Lutsharel Geertruida.”
Geertruida arrived on Wearside last summer with great pedigree following his spells with Feyenoord and Leipzig, and subsequent great excitement from the Sunderland supporters, but the Dutchman failed to nail down a consistent starting role under Regis Le Bris.
Despite expectations of more, Geertruida surprisingly made just 17 Premier League starts in the red-and-white stripes last season, but whenever he featured, the versatile Dutchman rarely put a foot wrong.
Particularly towards the end of the campaign, the 25-year-old proved, who was wanted by then-reigning champions Liverpool in the January transfer window, showed his ample Premier League credentials to help Sunderland to a remarkable seventh-placed finish.
At right-back, Geertruida was outstanding as Le Bris’ side went unbeaten in their final three games, against a trio of difficult opponents in Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea on the final day.
Following the Europa League-clinching win over the Blues in the season finale, Geertruida was seen waving goodbye to the Stadium of Light faithful, as it was expected that the Sunderland hierarchy were not set to exercise the purchase option in his loan deal for around the £18m mark.
However, the club appear to have mirrored the sentiments of the Sunderland supporters and have entered discussions with the Dutchman, who was recently called up to Ronald Koeman’s 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup in place of the injured Jurien Timber.
Given Geertruida’s versatility, likeability and quality outings last season, the Sunderland fans will be desperate to see the club’s transfer team come to a conclusion with the defender and his representatives, which would be an exciting kick-off to the summer transfer window.
Additionally, Sunderland confirmed that former captain Dan Neil, Cirkin, right-winger Bertrand Traoré and full-back Niall Huggins will all leave the Stadium of Light as expected this summer, while all other first-team players remain under contract.
Away from the first-team, Sunderland added that: “Under-21 players Oliver Bainbridge, Marshall Burke, Dan Cameron, Thomas Lavery, Elias Lenz, Ethan Moore, Adam Richardson, Rhys Walsh and Jake Waters will all leave the Club this summer, with second-year scholars Ivan Struk and George Bell also departing the Academy of Light.”
