The former Sunderland winger has spoken openly about his time on Wearside and the reasons he believes his spell stalled

Former Sunderland winger Jewison Bennette has spoken candidly about his time on Wearside, outlining the reasons he believes his involvement with the first team came to an abrupt halt despite an encouraging start in England.

Bennette joined Sunderland in August 2022 from Herediano on a four-year deal and quickly made an impression. The Costa Rica international made his debut later that summer and scored his first goal in only his second appearance, showing flashes of the pace and directness that had prompted Sunderland’s recruitment team to bring him to the club.

The winger featured most prominently under Tony Mowbray, registering more than 20 senior appearances across league and cup competitions. However, his minutes dried up sharply thereafter, with Bennette spending time out on loan before eventually leaving permanently.

Reflecting on that period, Bennette claims he sought clarity directly from the head coach after being frozen out of matchday squads. “I managed to have a conversation with the coach who, at that time, had given me playing time — I think more than 20 games with the first team. Then suddenly, he took me off the roster and never used me again.

“So I had a conversation with him to find out what the reasons were, what I could improve, and what I needed to work on, because I wanted to continue having that opportunity. What he told me was that the sporting director didn’t let him make certain decisions — that the players he brought in were the ones who had to play.

“The ones the sporting director brought in, exactly, because I was brought in by Sunderland’s scouting department, not by the sporting director. There was some kind of rivalry between the two of them. He didn’t have permission to use me. I shook his hand and thanked him for his honesty. That’s when I spoke with my dad, told him what was happening, and said that the best thing was to leave.”

During Bennette’s time at Sunderland, Kristjaan Speakman oversaw recruitment as sporting director, while the club went through a period of managerial change. Following Mowbray’s departure, Bennette was also at the club during spells under Michael Beale, Mike Dodds and current head coach Régis Le Bris, though his involvement on the pitch remained limited and he spent time away on loan.

Despite the frustrations, Bennette insists he left Sunderland with positive memories of the support he received from supporters and those close to him. “I always had my family and my girlfriend there, who always supported me and helped me stay strong. During my time there, I earned the fans’ affection — they really made me feel at home. The situations I had when they gave me the opportunity were handled well.”

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Bennette’s career began in Costa Rica with Herediano, where he made his senior debut in August 2021 and scored on his first start. After leaving Sunderland, he joined Aris Thessaloniki on loan in January 2024 before moving permanently in March 2025 to Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy for an undisclosed fee. Now settled at his new club, Bennette says he has regained both confidence and momentum. “Now I have a new club that I’m very happy with. I’m currently playing, and we’re in first place in the league.”

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