Sunderland AFC has submitted its retained list for the 2025-26 season. Following confirmation of Enzo Le Fée’s four-year contract at the Stadium of Light, all first-team players have been retained except Chris Mepham and Salis Abdul Samed, who return to their parent Clubs. Mepham arrived from AFC Bournemouth and made 40 appearances, playing an instrumental role in the Club’s promotion to the Premier League. Abdul Samed featured on 11 occasions and, in addition to his contributions on the field, he became an equally important figure in the dressing room throughout the campaign. Tommy Watson has also completed a move Brighton & Hove Albion following a heroic ending to his time on Wearside, which saw him score a stoppage-time winner at Wembley Stadium to send Sunderland to the Premier League. Under-21 squad members Ben Crompton, Cuba Mitchell, Caden Kelly, and Kelechi Chibueze will leave the Club this summer, with second-year scholars Aaron Chung and Daniel Parker also departing the Academy of Light. Ben Middlemas, Oliver Bainbridge, Marshall Burke, and Daniel Cameron have agreed one-year extensions, with Ethan Moore and Timur Tutierov also offered new terms following the end of their respective contracts. Ben Kindon, Ben Metcalf, Jack Whittaker, and Jaydon Jones have been offered their first professional contracts at the Club. All at SAFC thank each departing player for their respective contributions, and we wish them well in the next chapter of their careers
Make sense that the likes of Kelly and Compton aren't kept on, weren't going to be good enough for the 1st team and gives them a chance to go and have a good career
No arguments there. Crompton was never making it here, now he’s got the chance to go and play again after a decent loan last season
Always a difficult time and pleased I don't have to make these decisions. This is when it stops being 'Football Manager' and affects people's futures. Good luck to anyone leaving the club ... ... I hope you've been well looked after and speak well about us wherever you go from here.
Surprised that Kelly and Crompton have been released , I thought at one time Kelly and Watson were equally outstanding , and Crompton not that far behind ,
Yeh. If you think he's only a couple of months younger than Seelt, Triantis and Hjelde. And nowhere near them.
You may be right, no room for late developers in football it would seem , its a shame but thats the reality, . My comparison to Watson highlights the gulf between both players atm. Its obscene , but thats to-days football I suppose.
Kelly was good at U21 level but when he played with Watson he was one of the oldest at that age group I think Kelly might struggle to play regular league football but hope I'm wrong Wishing all the lads all the best and hope they make good careers for themselves
Yep,spot on mate and I'm sure that's the case. We've got more of it when the returning loanees get to learn their individual fate.....think we could see 8 or 9 of them on their way.
I think Crompton will have a decent EFL career. Hope he goes to Tamworth for another year though just to play consistently and then move up the ladder next year.
About fifteen years back I got to know someone on our coaching staff through a friend, he later left football and now works at Loughborough Uni. . He was there during a 'retained list' scenario and said it was a very difficult time for various reasons. He, and the other coaches, argued the case of one particular young player but the club released him which caused some serious arguments. Murty and the other staff will be seeing lads, who they've become close to, being cast aside. That's life but, after being father figures to hopeful young players, it must be tough.
