Exclusive:Sunderland striker sends defiant transfer message after double injury blow and summer exit
Jake Waters is to leave Sunderland this summer after battling back from two serious injuries.
Jake Waters has sent a defiant transfer message as the boyhood Sunderland fan prepares to leave the club this summer.
The young striker, who spent time at Hebburn Town on loan last season, is to be released by Sunderland after a difficult few years in which he battled back from two serious ACL injuries. Waters has shown real resilience to return to the pitch, with Graeme Murty among those to have spoken highly of his character and determination during his time at the Academy of Light.
For Waters, there is obvious disappointment attached to leaving Sunderland. He grew up supporting the club, wore the red and white stripes at youth level and always carried that pride with him whenever he represented the Black Cats. But after a long road back to fitness, the forward is now focused on proving himself elsewhere and finding a club willing to give him the regular senior football he needs.
Asked what sort of level he feels he can play at, Waters said: “I'm not going to try and put a level on myself, because wherever it wants me, I will go and play football and prove myself at any level and just help the team and help myself do as well as I can and score goals. I'll back myself to go and play at any level that wants us and perform and do well.”
Waters’ Sunderland journey has been shaped by more adversity than most young players have to deal with. Two ACL injuries robbed him of crucial development time, but the striker believes those setbacks have also helped him grow mentally. “Yeah, maybe,” Waters said when asked whether the injuries had made him stronger. “I think I do appreciate being able to play every day a bit more. That helps. I'm always excited to go and play.
“Maybe not just as a player, but as a person mentally, it's really helped us be strong and resilient. Also, more compassionate and stuff like that. If someone else gets injured, know what's going on and know how hard some things can be. Not just as a footballer, but as a player. Everything I went through as a person, everything I've gone through has helped us become better. But yeah, I also think it has helped give a bigger understanding as a footballer.”
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Sunderland’s rise to the Premier League has inevitably made the pathway tougher for some academy players, particularly those trying to break through in attacking positions. However, his message to potential clubs is clear: he wants to play football, score goals and rebuild his career after everything he has come through.
“All I've ever wanted is to play football and score goals, so that's what I want to do,” Waters said. “I want to stay as high as possible, stay in full-time football. Give another club whichever one wants to give us a chance. Help them get to whatever their goal is and just play. We get in, we get out, score goals, and have fun like I've always wanted to do since I was a kid.”