Sunderland midfielder Pierre Ekwah was loaned out to French club AS Saint-Etienne in the final days of the transfer window, with an option to buy included in the deal.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has praised Ekwah’s potential, stating that he has “everything it takes” to succeed at a top European club but needs to improve his consistency. Ekwah’s departure followed a lackluster start to the season where he played only 90 minutes in the EFL Cup and did not feature in the Championship.
In an interview with Poteaux Carres, Le Bris explained that Ekwah’s limited game time was partly due to an injury sustained during a pre-season match in Spain, which sidelined him for nearly two weeks. By the time he returned, the team had already developed momentum, leading Le Bris to believe it was the right moment for Ekwah to seek a new opportunity.
Le Bris acknowledged that while he would have liked to give Ekwah more chances, the team’s form made it logical for him to explore a fresh start. He remains confident in Ekwah’s abilities, noting that the challenge for the young player now is to consistently perform at a high level. “Pierre has the talent to be among the best in Europe’s top leagues. The real test is maintaining that level of performance week in and week out,” Le Bris said.
