In the early hours of Saturday morning, Sunderland finalized the signings of three new players just before the transfer deadline, including striker Ahmed Abdullahi.
The Black Cats secured a last-minute deal for Abdullahi after initiating their interest in the Gent striker earlier in the day. The 20-year-old has agreed to a four-year contract with an option for an additional year.
Abdullahi joined Salis Abdul Samed and Milan Aleksic at the Stadium of Light, with the loan signing of Chris Mepham being announced shortly after the deadline.
Defensive midfielder Samed, 24, arrives on a season-long loan from Lens, while Aleksic, a promising young talent from FK Radnicki 1923, has signed a four-year deal with an option for another year.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman praised Aleksic, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Friday, stating: “Milan is a highly skilled young player on the verge of national team selection. We value his creativity and versatility, though we acknowledge the need for patience as he adjusts to a new country and club. His potential and progress suggest he can become a key player for Sunderland in the future, highlighting our club’s commitment to nurturing talent in an elite environment.”
Regarding Samed’s loan, Speakman commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sallis to Sunderland. He’s a disciplined defensive midfielder who will bring a unique profile to our squad. His experience in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League will be beneficial as he transitions to English football.”
The acquisition of Abdullahi was a significant boost for Sunderland, who were concerned about missing out on a striker. The Nigeria Under-20 international will compete with Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor for a forward position. Speakman described Abdullahi as a natural center-forward with a strong goal-scoring record and expressed confidence in his potential, stating: “We are pleased to bring Ahmed to Sunderland. He is a central forward with a knack for finishing and has recently made a move to Gent’s senior team. We will support him in settling in and look forward to his development with us.”
The move of Hemir to Juventus is yet to be officially confirmed but is believed to have been completed.
