Sunderland launch stunning late £30m deadline day transfer move for Leeds United forward
Sunderland made a late £30m move for Leeds United forward Noah Okafor before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.
Sunderland made a late deadline day approach for Leeds United forward Noah Okafor, according to reports, with the Black Cats prepared to offer up to €35million, around £30million.
Transfer reporter Rudy Galetti claims Sunderland made a last-minute move for the Switzerland international as they continued to explore attacking additions before Tuesday night’s 11pm deadline.
The approach did not progress, though, with Okafor said to have made it clear immediately that he had no intention of leaving Leeds and wanted to remain at Elland Road. Okafor, 26, joined Leeds from AC Milan in August 2025 on a four-year contract. The fee was reported at around £17million at the time, with the forward arriving after spells with Basel, Red Bull Salzburg, Milan and a loan stint at Napoli.
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Capable of playing from either flank or through the middle, Okafor made 30 Premier League appearances for Leeds last season, scoring eight goals. He has also featured in all three of their competitive games at the start of the new campaign. Sunderland have been working extensively on their attacking options throughout deadline day, with Malick Fofana emerging as their major target following a dramatic battle with Crystal Palace for the Lyon winger.
The reported move for Okafor appears to have been another late option considered by Florent Ghisolfi as Sunderland assessed the market in the final hours of the window. Okafor, though, is expected to stay with Leeds after making his position clear. That decision effectively ended Sunderland’s hopes of taking the forward to Wearside.