Régis Le Bris Breaks Silence as Sunderland Kick Off Summer Window with Stunning Club-Record Transfer
Sunderland Set to Complete Permanent Signing of Enzo Le Fée from AS Roma
Sunderland are on the verge of finalizing their first signing of the summer transfer window, as their promotion to the Premier League has triggered an automatic clause to permanently acquire AS Roma midfielder Enzo Le Fée.
The deal, which was part of Le Fée’s initial loan agreement, is expected to eventually reach around £20 million—potentially making it the most expensive transfer in the club’s history, eclipsing the fee once paid for Didier Ndong.
While Sunderland still face a significant task in building a squad capable of surviving and thriving in the Premier League, securing Le Fée’s services marks a promising start.
Head coach Régis Le Bris praised the midfielder’s adaptability and commitment throughout the season, often playing out of position to benefit the team.
“First and foremost, he’s been a fantastic teammate,” said Le Bris. “That’s what I want to emphasize. He began the season playing mostly as a left winger.
When we had the chance to pair him with Romain [Matić] again, it allowed Enzo to return to his natural role.
They haven’t played together often, so their coordination wasn’t perfect, but the experience proved valuable later in the match.”
Le Bris Reflects on Promotion-Sealing Victory
Speaking after Sunderland’s dramatic Championship play-off final win, Le Bris described the match as another incredible moment in the club’s journey.
“It’s another fantastic chapter for us,” he said. “Just like the semi-final, it was nerve-wracking for coaches and fans, but once again, we showed great character.
Even when we weren’t in control, we remained united and stuck to the game plan. As the match wore on, we felt the momentum shift—and that’s exactly what happened.”
Le Bris also addressed the early loss of Luke O’Nien due to injury and praised Chris Mepham’s readiness to step in.
“We lost Luke early, which also meant burning a sub, but I felt confident making that change because Meps was prepared. He’s shown incredible professionalism all season.
Even when left out for the semi-finals, he told me he’d stay connected with the group—and he delivered.
We also rotated him with Ballard to handle the threat from Kieffer Moore, which helped us manage that side of the pitch.”
Sunderland’s promotion and the permanent signing of Le Fée signal a bold step forward as the club prepares for its return to the Premier League.
