Transfer Rumours The Sunderland Links/Transfer Rumours Thread - Summer 2025

Born in January 1994 in Beira, Mozambique, Reinildo Mandava’s journey from local leagues in southern Africa to Europe’s top competitions is a story of talent, resilience, and determination.

The left-back made his senior international debut for Mozambique in May 2014 against Morocco, and a year later, he made the move to Europe, signing for Portuguese giants S.L. Benfica.

His early years saw loan spells at Fafe and Sporting Covilhã, where he gained valuable experience in Portuguese football. In January 2019, Reinildo’s career took a significant step forward when he joined Belenenses SAD, earning a move to LOSC Lille shortly after.

It was in France that he rose to prominence, playing a key role in Lille’s stunning 2020-21 Ligue 1 title triumph. That season, he ranked among Ligue 1’s top defenders for tackles won, duels won, and interceptions per 90 minutes.

His consistency and composure earned him a place in L'Équipe’s Team of the Season, and he followed that up by helping Lille defeat Paris Saint-Germain to lift the French Super Cup in August 2021.

In January 2022, Reinildo signed for Atlético Madrid, where he quickly became a trusted figure under Diego Simeone. During his time in LaLiga, he maintained a 90% pass accuracy rate and averaged 2.3 tackles, 1.9 interceptions, and 4.1 recoveries per game.

Over three seasons, he made 74 La Liga appearances and featured in the UEFA Champions League, before making his final outing for the club in June 2025 at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Now, the 31-year-old embarks on a new chapter, signing a two-year deal with Sunderland AFC in July 2025. In doing so, he becomes the first-ever Mozambican to represent the Club.

With elite-level experience and a reputation for defensive discipline, work ethic, and leadership, Reinildo arrives on Wearside determined to give everything for Sunderland and help bring glory back to the Stadium of Light.


(edited to put his age right)

 

Out of all the exciting signings we have made so far this may be the most important. Having so much experience at the highest level of European football could be absolutely huge for such a young squad.

 

What a great interview. He is going to be such an asset in the changing room with all of that experience and intelligence. Plus if he’s played for Simeone he should be a decent defender.

He seems a decent fella as well and I can’t wait until he develops a Wearside accent !

 

i like this lad a lot, if i had not seen his age i would think he was mid 20's so looks like he has taken good care of himself along the way.

 

Translation:
EXCLUSIVE - BREAKING NEWS:

Leeds United has offered Fenerbahçe €7M for the 30-year-old world-renowned goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. #LUFC

Fenerbahçe’s expectation for this transfer is €12-13M.

Sunderland, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Arab clubs are also keeping tabs. #SAFC #AVFC #CFC

———————-
“World renowned”? I’ve never heard of him!!

 

Top player in the qatar winter world cup for croatia and saved a few in the penalty shootouts on route to the semis. Nearly got keeper of the tournament, golden gloves? award. Other than that he's only played club football in croatia and turkey, so no household name.

Would still take him as back up keeper.

 

Noah Sadiki explains why he snubbed Leeds to join Sunderland



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25300166.noah-sadiki-explains-snubbed-leeds-join-sunderland/

NOAH Sadiki has revealed he snubbed Leeds United and Frankfurt to join Sunderland - and says not even the prospect of playing in the Champions League could tempt him to turn down the Black Cats. Sadiki completed his £17.5m move last week and has now revealed he was "sold" on the switch to Sunderland from the moment he first met club officials....

"The transfer was leaked on July 2nd , and I knew there was interest two days earlier," he said in a new interview with Nieuwsblad in Belgium. "Before that, I tried to put my phone aside as much as possible, because the rumours were getting louder and louder. I was basically just waiting for the call from my agent. Eventually, he explained to me that Sunderland were interested in my profile, and I had a meeting with the board. And from that moment on, I was sold."

He added: "Wolfsburg's name was being bandied about, but I never spoke to their board. In fact, I only spoke with people from Sunderland, Frankfurt, and Leeds, who had also submitted a bid. Choosing Sunderland is also a kind of bet with myself. I want to know what it's like to play in the best league in the world and see where I stand against better teams. Just before I left, I went to training again and reiterated how proud I was to have been part of this team. And afterward, some people teased me a bit about my choice for Sunderland. Especially Ross Sykes [Union Saint-Gilloise defender] who's a Newcastle fan, Sunderland's big rivals. Although they mostly said my transfer was deserved!"

Union Saint-Gilloise, who Sadiki joined from Anderlecht in 2023, won their first Belgian title in 90 years last season and are now preparing for the Champions League. But even the prospect of getting a first taste of Europe's elite competition couldn't change Sadiki's mind when it came to his exit this summer.

"It was clear to me that I would leave," he said. "Before the season, I'd already spoken to Chris O'Loughlin [Union Saint-Gilloise's sporting director] about it. He told me I could leave after the season. And although some people tried to convince me after last season with the Champions League argument, they couldn't change my mind.

"I definitely made a lot of progress last season. The Noah Sadiki who left Anderlecht is no longer the same as the one who left Union. They're two completely different players. I left Anderlecht with a desire for revenge and wanted to prove I could handle the level of the first-team. I think I've proven and won everything in Belgium. Although, of course, we'll have to wait and see what the training sessions at Sunderland will bring."

Sadiki isn't daunted by how much Sunderland have paid to secure his signature.

He said: "As I've said in the past: I don't really know anything about numbers. I just know it's a lot of money. As I said, I'm not the same person as when I left Anderlecht. I sometimes hear now that if this or that had happened, they would have kept me. But if and when doesn't buy you anything, right? My time there taught me that you have to realise that you don't get anything for nothing and that in football, anyone can disappoint you.

"When I joined Union in the summer of 2023, there were a lot of doubts. I even doubted myself. But the staff and my teammates reassured me by saying that they had not brought me in for nothing and that I had the qualities to succeed. So it is thanks to them that I have regained my self-confidence and I will not forget that in a hurry."

 

Cracking attitude

 

Scarf pics imminent?
https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1942930436046348490?t=Pc1KU4CN1N2zSmQ05YuYgg&s=19

 

Fee agreed with Brighton for Simon Adingra

 

Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce the signing of Chemsdine Talbi.

Sealing a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light, the 20-year-old winger arrives from Club Brugge KV for an undisclosed fee.

Talbi enjoyed a breakthrough 2024-25 season in the Jupiler Pro League, contributing seven goals and five assists in 44 appearances, including 11 outings in the UEFA Champions League.

After arriving in the North East, he said: "I'm really excited to be here and grateful for the opportunity to play for this Club. I made the decision because it’s a great project with a talented, exciting team full of young players – and that really motivated me. The Premier League is the biggest and best league in the world, so I’m looking forward to getting started. I know the fans will get behind me from the start, and I can’t wait to see them at the stadium."

The winger, who has played on either flank, started his career with Royale Union Tubize-Braine before moving to Club Brugge aged 10.

He signed a three-year professional contract in 2022 and represented Brugge’s development team, Club NXT, in Belgium’s second tier throughout the 2022-23 season, scoring on his senior debut.

Talbi also made his Club Brugge debut the same campaign against K.V. Kortrijk, with a further three senior appearances coming in 2023-24, the season before he took the top-flight by storm.

Capped by Belgium at youth level, Talbi declared his intention to represent Morocco earlier this year.

Kristjaan Speakman added: “Our momentum and story are powerful, and I think players of Chemsdine’s calibre, who are in high demand, are excited by the prospect of playing for Sunderland AFC. It’s a testament to our recent past and immediate future that he feels this we are the right Club for his next step. Predominantly playing wide right, Chemsdine excels in duels and possesses elite physical qualities, and he also has flexibility to play across the frontline. Our supporters will rightly be excited to see him play, and we are delighted to welcome him to Sunderland.”

 

CT? I can only assume that we’ve re-signed Chris Turner.

 

❤️ Simon Adingra to Sunderland, here we go! Deal done with Brighton for €21m fixed fee plus €3m add-ons.

Personal terms also agreed with medical to follow next, one more addition for #SAFC.

Player on his way to complete the move, as @SkySports_Keith reports. ✈️

 

Were we linked to this lad in January?

 

Yes as part of the Watson deal

 

well another 2 added to squad welcome to sunderland lads

 

Squad as it stands. What do we think?



Deffo need a keeper and at least 1 Centre Back IMHO. Probably 2.

 

and a striker 2 aint enough in premier league