Sunderland are set to release an ex-Chelsea midfielder as their summer contract decisions continue.

Sunderland youngsters Ivan Struk and George Bell are set to leave the club this summer, The Echo understands.

Both players signed two-year scholarship deals with the Black Cats in the summer of 2024, but are not expected to be retained when those agreements come to an end.

Struk’s departure comes after a difficult spell on Wearside, with injury issues hampering his progress at the Academy of Light. The Ukrainian midfielder initially joined Sunderland towards the start of the 2023-24 season, arriving on trial before a pre-registration agreement was reached with Chelsea.

The Echo reported in 2023 that Sunderland had reached a pre-contract agreement with Struk, who was then 16 and unable to formally sign full-time terms until the following January. The move was eventually completed, with Struk becoming the latest Ukrainian player to join the club’s academy set-up after Timur Tutierov.

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Struk has featured for Sunderland at under-18 level this season, making 14 appearances across the U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup, scoring twice and registering one assist. However, injuries disrupted his time at the club and limited his ability to build real momentum. Bell, meanwhile, is also set to depart after two years in Sunderland’s scholarship programme. The youngster made 11 appearances across the U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup this season, but is not being offered fresh terms.

The decisions form part of Sunderland’s wider academy reshuffle, with a number of scholars and under-21 players facing important calls over their futures this summer. Several young players remain in talks over new deals, while others are now preparing to move on and seek opportunities elsewhere.

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