Promotion pushes, relegation battles and injuries - How Sunderland players are faring out on loan this season
There have been mixed fortunes for Sunderland players out on loan during the first half of the season.
Several Sunderland players are spending time away from Wearside after securing loan moves elsewhere in recent weeks and months.
After what was a hectic summer in the transfer window, a number of first-team squad members made temporary moves away from the Stadium of Light before the summer trading period came to a close in early September. Since then, some Academy of Light products have also made loan moves away from the club as they earn what will be crucial senior experience in the EFL and non-league game.
It would be safe to say the eight Sunderland players currently out on loan have experienced mixed fortunes in recent weeks and months with some playing their part in promotion pushes, others battling to avoid relegation at the other end of the table and one seeing two separate injuries limiting the impact he has been able to make during his latest loan stint away from Wearside.
So how are those players faring during their loan spells? The Echo takes a look at their performances and statistics during the first three months of the season.
Simon Adingra - Ajax
After joining Sunderland during the summer of 2025, the vast majority of Adingra’s time with the Black Cats has been spent elsewhere. After spending the second half of last season with Ligue 1 club Monaco, the Ivory Coast winger joined Dutch giants Ajax on a season-long loan during the summer. However, injuries have hampered his attempts to make an impact with Adingra limited to just one substitute appearance during the first three months of the campaign as he came off the bench in a 1-1 draw with NEC last month Next game: ADO Den Haag (A) - Sunday, November 22
Jenson Seelt - Swansea City
Seelt has had to bide his time since joining the Championship club on a season-long loan during the summer transfer window. Four of his first five league appearances came as a substitute - but Seelt was named in the starting eleven for defeats against Birmingham City and Portsmouth over the last fortnight. He will hope to have done enough to preserve his place in the Swans side as they look to continue their push for a play-off place Next game: West Bromwich Albion (H) - Saturday, November 21
Milan Aleksic - FK Partizan
The Serbia Under-21 international has struggled to make an impact during his time on Wearside and made a season-long loan move to Partizan during the summer transfer window. Aleksic has scored two goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions as his side narrowly missed out on securing a place in the league phase of the Europa Conference League after they suffered a 4-3 aggregate defeat in a play-off round tie with Spanish club Getafe. Partizan are struggling in the league with a run of just five wins in 15 games leaving them in the bottom five of the table Next game: IMT (A) - Saturday, November 21
Matty Young - Huddersfield Town
Arguably the most successful loan stint of any Sunderland player, Young has enhanced his already glowing reputation by helping the Terriers push for a return to the Championship. Young has conceded 12 goals in 14 league games so far this season as they have moved to the top of the League One table - although he was unable to help his side move into the FA Cup second round after they suffered a defeat against Exeter City on Saturday Next game: Liverpool Under-21s (H) - Tuesday, November 10
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Finlay Holcroft - Spennymoor Town
The defender joined the National League North strugglers on a loan deal lasting until January last month and he has already made five appearances in non-league football’s second tier. Just one of those games has brought a win and Holcroft will hope for an improvement in fortunes over the remainder of his time at the Brewery Field Next game: Scarborough Athletic (H) - Saturday, November 14
Luke Bell - Darlington
Bell joined the struggling Quakers last month and has made four National League North appearances during that time. The defender was part of a Darlo side that saw off North East neighbours Spennymoor Town last month but that is the only win of his time with the club Next game: Oxford City (H) - Saturday, November 14
Jayden Jones - Hebburn Town
The young midfielder is earning his first senior experience during a loan spell with Hebburn Town and Jones made the third of three National League North appearances in a 2-2 draw with AFC Telford United last month. He has remained on the bench for the Hornets’ last two league games but did score his first senior goal in a Durham Challenge Cup win against Park View Next game: Guiseley (H) - Saturday, November 14
Marcus Neill - Morecambe
The Australia Under-21 international was a regular goalscorer for the Black Cats Under-18s side and has already found the net at Under-21s level. However, there was a real landmark moment for Neill when he netted his first senior goal for Morecambe in their 2-0 win against National League North rivals Scarborough Athletic last month and he will hope to continue finding the net as his side look to find some consistency Next game: Hereford (H) - Tuesday, November 10.
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