Sunderland squad contract latest after Dennis Cirkin confirms summer departure
There are some major decisions facing Sunderland as several players approach key moments in their contracts.
Sunderland are expected to announce details of their retained list over the next week as preparations for the 2026/27 season get underway.
However, one player has already revealed his time with the Black Cats has come to an end after full-back Dennis Cirkin confirmed he will leave the club later this month when his current contract comes to an end. The former Tottenham Hotspur defender moved to Sunderland during the summer of 2021 and has gone on to make over 125 appearances over the last five years.
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Cirkin was a key part of the side that ended Sunderland’s time in League One and continued to impress as they secured a long-awaited return to the Premier League with last season’s Championship play-off final win against Sheffield United. However, the 24-year-old made just eight top flight appearances last season and just three of them came as part of Regis Le Bris’ starting eleven as the former Lorient boss led the Black Cats into the Europa League.
In an emotional social media post, Cirkin confirmed his time on Wearside was over and reflected positively on what he has achieved. He said: “Thank you. For the passion, the loyalty, the noise week after week. To represent you, and to wear this badge over 100 times, has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. When I look back, I won’t remember the statistics. I’ll remember the heart and soul of our community. The feeling of a whole city behind one team. What we built back up together. I arrived a boy chasing a dream. I leave carrying this place, and all of you, with me forever.”
Cirkin is far from the only Sunderland player that has faced a major decision over his future as his contract comes to an end this summer and there are also several current members of the Black Cats ranks that will also enter the final 12 months of their deals. But when do the contracts of Sunderland players come to a close and who is now at risk at being snapped up on a cut-price deal as they approach key moments in their deals at the Stadium of Light?
When do the contracts of current Sunderland players come to an end?
Summer 2026: Bertrand Traore, Lutsharel Geertruida (loan), Dennis Cirkin, Harrison Jones, Niall Huggins*, Zak Johnson*, Dan Neil* Summer 2027: Reinildo Mandava, Luke O’Nien, Abdoullah Ba, Simon Moore, Alan Browne*, Nazariy Rusyn*, Arthur Masuaku*, Aji Alese* Summer 2028: Granit Xhaka, Wilson Isidor, Romaine Mundle, Milan Aleksic, Ahmed Abdullahi, Luis Semedo*, Jenson Seelt*, Timothee Pembele, Anthony Patterson*, Leo Hjelde* Summer 2029: Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete, Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fee Summer 2030: Trai Hume, Robin Roefs, Simon Adingra*, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Habib Diarra, Chris Rigg, Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, Melkor Ellborg, Jocelin Ta Bi, Nilson Angulo.
* Player has been out on loan during the 2025/26 season
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