Exclusive:Sunderland make triple contract decision under Florent Ghisolfi and Robin Nicholls as summer plans continue

Sunderland youngsters Rhys Walsh, Oliver Bainbridge and Adam Richardson are set to leave the club this summer as the Black Cats continue to make academy and development squad decisions, The Echo understands.

The trio have been released as part of the club’s wider summer planning under sporting director Florent Ghisolfi and academy manager Robin Nicholls, with youth coach Graeme Murty also involved in the process around Sunderland’s young players. The news follows information previously revealed by The Echo that Jake Waters and Dan Cameron are also set to leave Sunderland when their contracts expire this summer.

Rhys Walsh set to depart Sunderland after Northern Ireland switch

Walsh, 19, joined Sunderland’s academy from Glentoran in 2024 after breaking into senior football in Northern Ireland. The winger made his first-team debut for Glentoran in August 2023, coming on as a late substitute in a 1-0 away win over Glenavon in the NIFL Premiership.

Sunderland paid a fee to bring Walsh to the Academy of Light, with the teenager arriving as a young player with senior experience and Northern Ireland youth international pedigree. He has represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level and spent time on loan at South Shields during his time on Wearside, making seven league appearances and scoring once.

Ollie Bainbridge to leave Academy of Light after South Shields loan

Bainbridge, 22, is also set to move on. The defender came through Sunderland’s academy and signed a two-year professional contract in 2023, with the option of a further year. He was a regular for Sunderland under-21s during the 2023-24 season, making 20 appearances in Premier League 2, scoring once and registering two assists.

The full-back, who can operate on either side of defence, gained senior experience away from Sunderland during two loan spells. He joined Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on a season-long loan in August 2024, making his league debut against Celtic before also featuring in Europe against Tromsø IL in the UEFA Conference League.

Bainbridge later joined South Shields on loan in 2025, where he played regularly in National League North and made 33 league appearances, scoring five goals. That spell offered valuable senior minutes, but he is now expected to leave Sunderland as the club continue to assess pathways for young players following promotion to the Premier League.

Adam Richardson leaves boyhood club as three-year deal expires

The Echo also understands Richardson, 22 is set to leave the club when his contract expires this summer. The goalkeeper has been with Sunderland since the age of eight and was once highly rated within the Academy of Light pathway.

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Standing at 6ft 6in, Richardson has represented England at youth level and received call-ups up to under-18 level. He was named on Sunderland’s first-team bench in a Papa John’s Trophy tie at Fleetwood Town in 2020, when he was just 17, and later featured for the club in pre-season under Tony Mowbray.

Richardson signed a three-year professional deal with Sunderland, but that contract is now coming to an end. The goalkeeper also gained senior experience during several loan spells in non-league.

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