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Enzo Le Fee reveals why Sunderland’s Championship play-off final was ‘most important game of his life’
Sunderland’s Promotion Secures Future of Club and Star Midfielder Enzo Le Fée
Sunderland’s triumph over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final was a landmark moment—not just for the club’s future, but also for the career of French midfielder Enzo Le Fée.
Echoes of “We’ve got Le Fée, Enzo Le Fée” rang through the Stadium of Light after the Roma loanee joined the Black Cats in January.
The move reunited him with former Lorient boss Régis Le Bris and was hailed as a major coup, considering Le Fée’s status as one of Ligue 1’s most creative midfielders.
After a difficult spell at Roma following his transfer from Rennes, Le Fée was given a new lease on life at Sunderland amid their promotion push.
His arrival came with an obligation-to-buy clause, triggered only if the club secured promotion—something that is now a reality following their play-off success.
Sunderland supporters are thrilled that the playmaker is staying permanently, and that joy is matched by Le Fée himself.
Enzo Le Fée Commits to Sunderland After Promotion
Le Fée arrived on Wearside with high expectations, which he has largely met despite battling injuries. He made 18 Championship appearances and scored once—a memorable long-range strike against Luton Town.
His true value, though, lay in his playmaking. Le Fée assisted Wilson Isidor in a vital 3-2 win over Middlesbrough, then set up another for his fellow Frenchman during the play-off semi-final win against Coventry City.
His third assist came in the second leg, delivering the cross for Dan Ballard’s dramatic header that sent Sunderland to Wembley.
With promotion secured, the obligation-to-buy clause in his loan deal was activated. Le Fée, knowing this, was essentially playing for his future—and the club’s—since his debut.
Following the announcement of his permanent transfer, Le Fée expressed his deep connection to Sunderland on SAFC.com:
“I said before the Play-Off Final that my heart was in Sunderland – I wanted to stay, and this made it the most important game of my life.
Together, we did it.
From the moment I arrived, I have enjoyed my football, my team-mates, and our supporters. We shared an incredible experience, and now we get to take the next step.
There are greater challenges ahead, but we must face them together, and I can’t wait to play for Sunderland in the Premier League.”
With a four-year contract confirmed, Le Fée will don the red and white in the top flight next season—bringing an end to an unfortunate chapter in the club’s transfer history.
Breaking a Record Sunderland Fans Wanted Forgotten
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie revealed that Le Fée’s transfer cost is around £20 million, making him Sunderland’s most expensive signing ever.
That fee finally displaces the club’s previous record-holder—Didier Ndong—whose spell on Wearside remains a sore memory for many fans.
Ndong arrived in 2016 for £13.6 million from Lorient, then managed by Le Bris, but failed to live up to expectations.
After a red card in his final game and an unproductive loan at Watford, Ndong resisted returning to a now-relegated Sunderland and was eventually sacked after missing pre-season without permission.
Since leaving, Ndong has had short-lived stints at clubs in France, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, Le Fée’s arrival ushers in a fresh start. His talent, commitment, and the faith shown by Sunderland in making him their record signing mark the beginning of a new chapter—one that kicks off in the Premier League.
