A Premier League star has now revealed he once went on trial to Sunderland, but got turned away.
Sunderland and their Academy of Light are pumping out some top young players, and at an increasing rate too.
Tom Watson looks like the next star to make the step up from the youth team to the first-team this season, following in the footsteps of names like Chris Rigg, Anthony Patterson, and Dan Neil to name a few.
There’s a clear focus on youth recruitment, development, and progression at the club under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.
Before, Sunderland’s transfer strategy was quite mismatched.
Sunderland in the Premier League
It’s been seven years since Sunderland were in the Premier League, and a lot has certainly changed since then.
In the Black Cats’ last Premier League season they spent well, splashing out close to £20million on Didier Ndong and then spending well on the likes of Papi Djilobodji and Paddy McNair among others.
Sunderland have since spent their share of money back in the Football League but on flops such as Will Grigg.
The Wearsiders aren’t big spenders right now and instead look to bring in younger players for cheaper amounts, and turn them into valuable assets in the transfer market.
Though it seems like they once missed out on a player who’s now being touted as a £77million player.
Ebere Eze reveals previous Sunderland trial
Ebere Eze joined Crystal Palace from QPR in 2020 for a reported fee of around £20million.
And in what is now his fourth season at Selhurst Park, Eze already has 107 Premier League appearances to his name with 22 goals and 17 assists.
He was on hand to score the winning goal for Palace in their 1-0 win at Liverpool last weekend.
Last month, the 25-year-old was linked with Manchester City, who are reportedly ready to spend up to £77million on the Englishman.
And speaking in a recent interview, Eze has discussed his journey into football and how several teams rejected him before QPR gave him his chance in 2016.
Eze said:
“I decided to go Arsenal. I was there for maybe five years, played there then got released, went to Fulham for two-and-a-half years or so, got released from there, went to Reading for half-a-year, got released from there. Then went to Millwall for my scholar, so was there for two years, then got released from there. Went on trial to a few teams afterwards, went to Sunderland, went to Bristol City. Got released. Well, not released, but didn’t get in.”
What could’ve been for Ebere Eze and the Black Cats
A lot of clubs missed out on Eze.
It’s not just Sunderland who will rue not giving him his chance but a host of other teams too, with QPR and now Palace the lucky suitors.
The Eagles look like they could be nearing a big payday where Eze is regarded, though Sunderland still have their share of valuable assets too.
Jack Clarke looks set to pocket the club a big profit in the summer and he could yet become Eze’s successor at Palace.
And there certainly seems to be a sense that, if a young Eze was on trial at Sunderland today, he’d be given his chance, and he’d probably breakthrough into the first-team as well.
The Black Cats need to ensure they don’t let any future stars like Eze slip through their grasp, and then when they find one, like Rigg for example, that they do everything they can to make him stay.