Sunderland are closing in on the appointment of Florent Ghisolfi as a major part of their Premier League rebuild, with the highly-rated Frenchman rejecting interest from Newcastle United, Juventus and Fiorentina to head to Wearside.
The move is viewed as a significant statement from majority shareholder Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, further underlining the club’s ambition following promotion. Sunderland have held long-standing interest in Ghisolfi, and sources suggest a shared vision for the club’s future was key to securing his agreement.
Ghisolfi recently left his post at AS Roma after helping the Serie A side to a fifth-place finish. Despite receiving late interest from a number of high-profile clubs, the 40-year-old has opted to join the Black Cats, where he is set to be reunited with Régis Le Bris. The pair previously worked together at FC Lorient and have maintained a strong professional relationship since. His arrival is not expected to impact Kristjaan Speakman’s role at the club. Instead, Ghisolfi will add further expertise to Sunderland’s recruitment and football operations ahead of their return to the top flight.
Ghisolfi brings with him a strong track record, particularly from his time at RC Lens. There, he helped mastermind promotion to Ligue 1 during the COVID-hit 2019-20 campaign, before building a competitive side that impressed both on the pitch and in the transfer market. Notably, he signed Austrian international Kevin Danso for around €5million — a player who would later earn a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur.
His data-driven, value-focused recruitment model is seen as an ideal fit for Sunderland’s long-term strategy. With Ghisolfi’s appointment set to be confirmed, attention now turns to the squad rebuild. Multiple signings are expected in the coming weeks, with Sunderland also braced for further departures. Should all the reported moves materialise, the Black Cats could be involved in transfer business totalling around £109million, an extraordinary figure that highlights just how transformative this summer could be.
Here, though, we take a closer look at how Sunderland’s 2025-26 squad could shape up, with more arrivals and exits expected under the Black Cats’ new director of football, with a combined transfer spend of around £109m if the rumours are true:
1. IN: Robin Roefs
The goalkeeper started the season against West Ham at the Stadium of Light following his £11.5million move and retained his place for the Burnley game and saved a penalty against Brentford. | Getty Images
2. Anthony Patterson
The homegrown Sunderland goalkeeper was on the bench against West Ham, Burnley and Brentford. | Sunderland's Anthony Patterson - Photo by Frank Reid
3. Simon Moore
Simon Moore signed a two-year deal at Sunderland last summer and will provide cover in the Premier League. | Frank Reid
4. IN: Lutsharel Geertruida
Sunderland have struck an agreement with RB Leipzig to sign Lutsharel Geertruida on an initial loan deal with an option to buy, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. The 25-year-old Netherlands international has been granted permission to undergo a medical ahead of completing his move to the Stadium of Light before the transfer window closes. The Black Cats looked to have hijacked Olympique de Marseille’s move for the versatile defender. The option price could be around the £17million mark. | Getty Images