Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete has joined MK Dons

Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete had completed a permanent move to League Two outfit MK Dons, the club have confirmed.

The 24-year-old signed for the Black Cats from Fleetwood Town in 2022, but has struggled to make much of an impression on the first team picture at the Stadium of Light in the period since. A modest 25 senior appearances have been supplemented by loan stints with the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United, and most recently, Bolton Wanderers.

This season has proven to be another difficult campaign for Matete, with the player omitted from Regis Le Bris’ Premier League squad list, and prior to his departure, had just a handful of outings for the U21s to his name.

What Kristjaan Speakman said about Jay Matete’s Sunderland exit?

On Friday morning, Sunderland confirmed that Matete has completed a permanent transfer to MK Dons for an undisclosed fee, bringing to an end his four-year stay on Wearside. Addressing the decision to allow Matete to leave the club, sporting director Kristjaan Speakman explained: “We feel this is the moment for Jay to find a new home and establish a foundation for him to play regularly. This is a very good opportunity at a club with progressive ambitions and who are well-placed in the league for promotion. We wish him every success in this next step.”

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What has Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said about outgoing transfers this month?

Speaking in a press conference earlier this week, Le Bris hinted that a number of exits could be sanctioned over the coming weeks. He said: “After [Saturday’s FA Cup tie against] Everton, we will have a period where we can have different conversations with the players.

"So far, it was probably not the best period to have those chats. For the players with less game time, they want to play. This is the normal life of a footballer. We will see what is possible. We will have conversations with everyone who has been having less game time. It’s always really open. Everything has to be discussed because, at the end of the transfer window, it is better to avoid frustrations. The conversations will take place, and then after that, we will decide."

With regards to potential incomings, he added: “There is nothing at the minute. The period is a really interesting one. It’s tough, and even with a number of absentees, the level of the squad remains really consistent, which is really positive. That shows the depth of the squad and the versatility of three or four of our players, which is really useful for game management. If we can improve and reinforce the squad, we will try to do that. But what we have learned will also be important for the next transfer window.”

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