Sunderland transfers: Six players set to leave and 13 who could go this summer:

Sunderland have announced several first-team players will leave the club this summer – while there will inevitably be more departures in the coming months.
Sunderland are already preparing for the 2024/25 season – with in and outgoings this summer inevitably set to occur.

The Black Cats have confirmed a handful of first-team players will leave the club following the end of their contracts this month, while decisions will be made on potential outgoings – either on loan or permanently. Sunderland may also have to fend off interest in some of their key players amid interest from top-flight clubs.

We’ve taken a closer look at the players who are set to leave the Stadium of Light this summer – as well as others who could depart:

1. Callum Styles – Set to leave

Sunderland signed Styles on an initial loan deal from Barnsley in January, with the 24-year-old set to return to his parent club. There is still an option for the Black Cats to make the deal permanent, though. Styles had been on Sunderland’s radar since last summer’s transfer window and made 12 Championship appearances following his move to Wearside.

2. Corry Evans – Set to leave

Evans, 33, made three Championship appearances at the end of the 2023/24 season after returning from an ACL injury. Sunderland had a one-year option to extend the midfielder’s contract, yet opted not to renew the deal. Evans will be fondly remembered by Black Cats supporters after captaining the side during their League One promotion campaign.

3. Mason Burstow – Set to leave

Sunderland signed Burstow on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea in the summer, after trying to agree a permanent deal. The 20-year-old striker endured a challenging season on Wearside and will return to his parent club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

4. Ellis Taylor – Set to leave

Taylor has come through the ranks at Sunderland, representing the club at under-9s level. The 21-year-old has made five appearances for the Black Cats’ first team, yet his contract won’t be renewed this summer. He has certainly given himself a good chance of finding a new club after impressing for Sunderland’s under-21s side, captaining them to the final of Premier League 2. returned from an injury setback in recent weeks, with his contract set to expire this summer.

5. Bradley Dack – Set to leave

Dack joined Sunderland on an initial one-year deal, with a club option of an additional year, after leaving Blackburn at the end of the 2022/23 season. After making just 16 Championship appearances since the move to Wearside, it’s been decided the Black Cats won’t renew the 30-year-old’s contract.

6. Jack Diamond – Set to leave

Diamond, 24, joined League One side Carlisle United on loan in January, where he made 16 appearances. The winger is set to leave Sunderland following the end of his contract this summer.

7. Jack Clarke – Could leave

Sunderland have turned down multiple offers for Clarke over the last 12 months, while the club haven’t been able to agree a new long-term contract with the 23-year-old – who has two years left on his current deal. It now feels like the player will move on this summer after an excellent season on Wearside.

8. Anthony Patterson – Could leave

Patterson has regularly talked about his pride playing for his boyhood club and signed a new contract, which will run until 2028, last year. Still, there has been Premier League interest in the 24-year-old goalkeeper and a big offer could leave Sunderland with a decision to make.

9. Jobe Bellingham – Could leave

Still only 18, Bellingham was a key player during his first season at Sunderland, making 43 Championship starts and scoring seven goals. The teenager signed a long-term contract on Wearside when he joined the club from Birmingham last summer, yet there has been Premier League interest in him. The chance to play regular first-team football at such a young age will offer a big incentive to stay at the Stadium of Light, though.

10. Chris Rigg – Could leave

Rigg signed a two-year scholarship deal with Sunderland last summer, yet FA rules mean he can’t sign a professional contract until after his 17th birthday on June 18. There has been Premier League interest in the teenage midfielder, who made 21 Championship appearances during the 2023/24 season. Once again, Sunderland will hope the chance to play first-team football will convince him to stay.

11. Alex Bass – Could leave

Bass impressed on loan at League Two side AFC Wimbledon during the 2023/24 season but is unlikely to receive many first-team opportunities at Sunderland. The 24-year-old has a year left on his Black Cats contract and would probably benefit from another move this summer.

12. Nathan Bishop – Could leave

Like Bass, Bishop appears unlikely to receive many first-team opportunities at Sunderland if Patterson stays at the club. The Black Cats won’t actively be looking to move the 24-year-old on, yet he may want to pursue more regular game time at senior level.

13. Hemir – Could leave (on loan)

The Portuguese striker signed a five-year contract at Sunderland last summer but struggled at Championship level during his first season at the club. A loan move would appear a logical step at this stage, while Sunderland will have to weigh up whether it’s best to send the 20-year-old abroad or keep him in the UK

14. Jewison Bennette – Could leave (on loan)

While Bennette joined Greek club Aris FC in January, the plan was always for the 19-year-old to return to Sunderland for pre-season and challenge for a first-team place. The winger didn’t received much game time in Greece, making just two league appearances while suffering an injury setback. It may be decided Bennette needs another loan move if Sunderland don’t feel he’d receive many first-team opportunities.

15. Jay Matete – Could leave

After suffering a knee injury last summer, Matete’s loan spell at Oxford was cut short following another setback. The 23-year-old has two years left on his contract at Sunderland, where his first-team opportunities may be limited. The midfielder will be looking to play regularly at this stage of his career.

16. Nectarios Triantis – Could leave (on loan)

Triantis was deployed in a defensive midfield position while on loan at SPL side Hibernian. The 21-year-old signed a four-year contract at Sunderland last summer, with the club viewing him as a long-term asset. Another loan move may be best for his career, though.

17. Eliezer Mayenda – Could leave (on loan)

Mayenda showed flashes of his ability during his first-team appearances for Sunderland but remains raw. The 19-year-old struggled for game time after joining Hibernian on loan. Sunderland will have to decide if another loan move is best for the youngster next season, or whether it’s more beneficial for him to stay on Wearside.

18. Elliot Embleton – Could go

After an extremely frustrating 18 months full of injury setbacks, Embleton will hope to prove his fitness during pre-season. The 25-year-old midfielder has shown he can be a very useful asset for Sunderland, yet he will need to play regularly, which may lead to another move away either on loan or permanently. Embleton is also heading into the final year of his contract on Wearside.

19. Joe Anderson – Could leave

Even when Sunderland were short of defensive options last season, the 23-year-old wasn’t handed a first-team start. Anderson wasn’t always been a regular starter during a loan spell at League One side Shrewsbury and is unlikely to receive many opportunities when he returns to Wearside.