Transfer news: Ex-Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton defender joins League Two club on two-year deal

Former Sunderland defender Joe Anderson has joined Accrington Stanley on a two-year contract.

The 25-year-old left Barrow following their relegation from League Two and has now secured an immediate return to the EFL with Accrington. Anderson only joined Barrow from Sunderland in January and went on to make 14 appearances during the second half of the campaign.

The left-sided centre-back had joined Sunderland from Everton in January 2023 and made his senior debut for the Black Cats the following month, coming on as a late substitute in a 1-1 Championship draw with Millwall.

Anderson went on to make seven senior appearances for Sunderland in total, while also spending the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Shrewsbury Town in League One. He made 30 appearances during that loan spell before returning to Wearside.

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The defender came through the youth system at Liverpool before joining Everton at the age of 15 in 2016. He signed his first professional contract with the Toffees in 2019 and later agreed an extension before moving to Sunderland.

Accrington boss John Doolan believes Anderson’s EFL experience can be important for the club next season: “He understands levels, he has the drive to succeed, and he has played a number of games in the EFL,” Doolan said. “He is a left-sided centre-half and I know he will take the opportunity with both hands.”

Anderson’s move continues a busy period of change for several former Sunderland players this summer, with the defender now looking to re-establish himself in League Two after a short spell at Barrow.

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