“Sunderland forgotten striker keen for Stadium of Light return this summer with Juventus Next Gen unlikely to buy him, as per reports in Italy.
Sunderland Set for Hemir Return After Juventus Decline Permanent Deal
Sunderland wrapped up a busy end to last summer’s transfer window with several ins and outs, including a number of loan departures.
Among the most surprising was striker Luis Hemir’s move to Italian giants Juventus, where he joined their Juventus Next Gen squad on loan with an option to buy for up to €5 million.
However, it now appears that Hemir will be returning to Wearside this summer.
According to JuventusNews24, the Serie A side have opted not to trigger the purchase clause following an underwhelming season from the Portuguese forward.
Hemir managed just two goals in 27 appearances for Juventus’ youth setup and failed to meet expectations.
The Italian club had long tracked the 20-year-old, even before his arrival at Sunderland in 2023.
Now set to return to the Championship side, Hemir remains goalless in 23 senior outings for the Black Cats. The club’s next steps regarding his future are currently unclear.
In contrast, fellow young striker Eliezer Mayenda has enjoyed a breakthrough year.
A year ago, he was in a similar position to Hemir — without a goal to his name and loaned out to Hibernian, where he featured just four times. Many fans had already written him off.
Fast forward to today, Mayenda has emerged as one of Sunderland’s standout players, netting eight goals in 37 matches and earning a call-up to Spain’s U21 squad.
A summer move could be on the cards, with European clubs reportedly watching his progress.
A Missed Opportunity for Profit
Had Juventus taken up the €5 million option for Hemir, it would’ve marked one of Sunderland’s most profitable player sales in recent history.
Though Hemir showed early promise at youth level, that potential has yet to materialize in senior football.
While he wasn’t the only player to struggle last season, it’s clear he may need a new environment to kickstart his career.
Fortunately for Sunderland, the deal was low-risk, as they acquired him for significantly less than the fee Juventus considered paying.
