Sunderland’s recent promotion to the Premier League has set in motion a series of financial obligations tied to past transfer agreements, notably involving French club Sochaux. As revealed by French outlet L’Est Républicain, and relayed by Roker Report, the Black Cats must now pay an additional €500,000 (approximately £418,000) to Sochaux due to a promotion-related clause embedded in the deal that brought Eliezer Mayenda to Wearside last summer. The clause stipulated that the fee would become payable upon Sunderland’s return to the top flight.
Mayenda joined Sunderland in July 2023 during a period of significant upheaval at Sochaux, who were dealing with severe financial issues and had been relegated to France’s third division. Viewed as a high-upside prospect, the teenage forward fit Sunderland’s youth-focused recruitment strategy. While his debut season in England was underwhelming, Mayenda bounced back in his second year with a series of standout performances, playing a pivotal role in helping the club clinch promotion via the play-offs. Despite still being early in his career, Mayenda is highly valued by the coaching staff and is expected to play a key role under new manager Régis Le Bris as the team transitions to Premier League competition. In addition to the bonus clause, Sochaux also negotiated a 20% sell-on fee, giving them a stake in any future sale of the Spanish youth international.
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League also activates several other financial clauses tied to previous transfers. For instance, the club will now owe Manchester City a £2 million payment as part of the 2022 deal for Patrick Roberts. Additionally, the club’s first official signing of the summer, French midfielder Enzo Le Fée, will now join permanently from AS Roma. The promotion has triggered the obligation-to-buy clause in his loan agreement. Le Fée, who arrived in January, has impressed with his performances, and the total cost of the transfer could reach €23 million (around £19 million) if all performance-related add-ons are fulfilled — making him Sunderland’s most expensive signing to date, surpassing Didier Ndong’s 2016 transfer.
Altogether, the combined outlay for Mayenda, Le Fée, and Roberts could surpass £21.4 million, underlining the club’s financial commitment to building a squad capable of competing at Premier League level. In a related development, reports from 225foot.com indicate Sunderland are exploring a potential reunion with Amad Diallo. However, a permanent deal appears unlikely as Diallo recently signed a contract extension with Manchester United that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2030. His recent form has further inflated his market value, potentially putting him out of Sunderland’s price range. Nevertheless, a loan move may still be considered later in the transfer window.
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