Sunderland confirm Lutsharel Geertruida transfer talks as Florent Ghisolfi makes Bertrand Traoré contract call
Sunderland have opened transfer talks with Lutsharel Geertruida after confirming their wider retained list
Sunderland have confirmed their retained and released list following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, with Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traoré and Niall Huggins all leaving the club.
The Black Cats have also confirmed that discussions remain ongoing with Lutsharel Geertruida, who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light from RB Leipzig. Geertruida’s situation is now one of the most intriguing early summer issues for Sunderland. The club have opened talks over a potential deal for the Netherlands international, with Sunderland holding an option to make his loan move permanent. However, any agreement would also require the player’s approval.
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The 25-year-old arrived on Wearside with a significant reputation after impressing at Feyenoord, where he won the Eredivisie title and became a regular Netherlands international. Liverpool were among the clubs to show interest in Geertruida in January 2025 before his move to RB Leipzig, underlining the calibre of player Sunderland were able to attract last summer.
His season at the Stadium of Light was not always straightforward. Geertruida did not play every week and had spells in and out of Régis Le Bris’ side, but his versatility across the back line made him a valuable squad option during Sunderland’s first season back in the Premier League.
He finished the campaign strongly, producing a superb back end to the season as Sunderland sealed a seventh-placed finish and Europa League qualification. His form also earned him another call-up to the Netherlands squad, further strengthening his profile heading into the summer. Sunderland’s retained list confirmed that Geertruida is not among the players leaving the club at this stage, with talks continuing over his future.
Elsewhere, Neil’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter for both player and club. The academy graduate helped Sunderland gain promotion from League One and later captained the Black Cats back to the Premier League, making more than 200 appearances in red and white.
Cirkin also leaves after five years on Wearside, having helped push the club from the third tier to the top flight and playing more than 120 times. The left-back became a popular figure with supporters, though injuries and competition for places disrupted his final period at the club.
Traoré departs after one year at the Stadium of Light, having contributed to Sunderland’s successful first season back in the Premier League. Huggins also moves on after joining from Leeds United in the summer of 2021. The full-back endured a difficult time with injuries but produced one of the club’s standout goals of recent years with his exceptional strike against Watford during the 2023-24 season, which later won Sunderland’s Goal of the Season award.
At under-21 level, Sunderland have confirmed that Oliver Bainbridge, Marshall Burke, Dan Cameron, Thomas Lavery, Elias Lenz, Ethan Moore, Adam Richardson, Rhys Walsh and Jake Waters will all leave the club this summer. Second-year scholars Ivan Struk and George Bell will also depart the Academy of Light. Zak Johnson, Harrison Jones and Timur Tutierov are listed as retained but are still expected to leave the club this summer.
The Echo understands the situation remains that all three players are expected to move on this summer. However, rather than being released with no future value attached, Sunderland are understood to be looking to protect the club’s position. That means the trio are not necessarily expected to leave straight away, but the expectation remains that departures will follow.
A small fee and/or sell-on clause could be attached to any potential exits, allowing Sunderland to retain some future benefit if the players go on to progress elsewhere. In practical terms, that is why they are expected to appear on the retained list despite their long-term futures lying away from the Stadium of Light.
The club said all departing players leave with the thanks and best wishes of everybody at the club. Sunderland have also confirmed that Finn Geragusian, Liam Hunt, Charlie Dinsdale, Bayley Hester, Marcus Neill, Finlay Holcroft, Joseph Neild and Felix Scott have all been offered professional contracts. All other first-team players have been retained, with Sunderland now preparing for another Premier League campaign and a return to European football under Le Bris.
Sunderland’s retained list in full:
Contracted:
Ahmed Abdullahi
Simon Adingra
Omar Alderete
Milan Aleksić
Aji Alese
Isaac Allan
Nilson Angulo
Abdoullah Ba
Dan Ballard
Luke Bell
Brian Brobbey
Alan Browne
Habib Diarra
Melker Ellborg
Leo Hjelde
Trai Hume
Wilson Isidor
Jenson Jones
Jaydon Jones
Ben Kindon
Enzo Le Fée
Ben Metcalf
Reinildo Mandava
Arthur Masuaku
Eliezer Mayenda
Simon Moore
Nordi Mukiele
Romaine Mundle
Luke O’Nien
Anthony Patterson
Timothée Pembélé
Chris Rigg
Robin Roefs
Nazariy Rusyn
Noah Sadiki
Trey Ogunsuyi
Jenson Seelt
Luis Hemir
Jocelin Ta Bi
Chemsdine Talbi
Granit Xhaka
Matty Young
Zak Johnson
Harrison Jones
Timur Tutierov
Out of contract and released:
Dennis Cirkin
Niall Huggins
Dan Neil
Bertrand Traoré
Dan Cameron
Oliver Bainbridge
Marshall Burke
Tom Lavery
Elias Lenz
Ethan Moore
Adam Richardson
Rhys Walsh
Jake Waters
Ivan Struk
George Bell
Ongoing discussions:
Lutsharel Geertruida
Youth players offered professional contracts:
Liam Hunt
Charlie Dinsdale
Bayley Hester
Marcus Neill
Finlay Holcroft
Archie Lightfoot
Joseph Neild
Felix Scott
Finn Geragusian