Dan Neil, Elliot Embleton and Anthony Patterson are three players in recent seasons who have broken through at Sunderland after coming through the Academy of Light.
England players Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson have also come up through Sunderland’s youth system, which is rated as one of the most productive in the country and has retained its category-one status for several years now, placing it amongst the country’s best.
But who are some of the best youngsters coming through and which youngsters already at the club could and would save and earn Sunderland millions in transfer fees over the coming years? Here, we take a look:
13. Trey Ogunsuyi
17-year-old attacker Trey Ogunsuyi played for Sunderland during pre-season against South Shields and is hugely talented. Liverpool were interested in the youngster recently but he was persuaded to stay at Sunderland and is being described amongst academy circles as Sunderland’s "best-kept secret”. (Brilliant photo courtesy of Ben Cuthbertson) Photo: Ben Cuthbertson