Transfer news: Sunderland defender seals short-term loan exit
Sunderland defender Zak Johnson has completed a loan move to York City
Sunderland defender Zak Johnson has completed a loan move to National League outfit York City, the club have confirmed.
The promising talent has been a mainstay of Graeme Murty’s U21s side in recent seasons, and has made the step up to first team action on a handful of occasions too. At the time of writing, the 20-year-old has made four senior appearances on Wearside.
Alongside those outings, Johnson has also enjoyed a number of loan stints away from the Academy of Light as well. Most recently, he spent the second half of last season with Notts County, but prior to that spell, he has featured for Hartlepool United and Irish outfit Dundalk.
Johnson’s latest loan will take him to York, where he will link up with Stuart Maynard’s promotion-chasing side in the upper echelons of the National League. At the time of writing, the Minstermen are third in the table, one point behind leaders Rochdale, who have played two games fewer. Interestingly, Maynard was also head coach at Notts County when Johnson signed for the Magpies back in mid-January.
The Sunderland defender has joined York on a short-term deal that will run until January 4th, with Black Cats academy manager Robin Nicholls explaining: “This presents Zak with a great opportunity to build on his minutes in senior football. Having already spent time with Hartlepool, Dundalk, and most recently Notts County, this is a further chance for him to showcase his ability at a competitive level. We look forward to monitoring him closely in the National League.”
The centre-back could make his York debut this Saturday at the LNER Community Stadium, as City host Aldershot Town in the National League at 3pm.
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What has Zak Johnson said about previous Sunderland loan exits?
Speaking earlier this year about the importance of playing regular senior football, Johnson said: “Going out on loan has been massive for me. It’s given me the chance to experience different styles of football and challenge myself in new environments. But no matter where I’ve played, the values I learned at Sunderland have always stayed with me.
“The Academy of Light built the foundations of who I am. It’s not just about being a good footballer – it’s about being a good person, too. That’s something I’m really proud of. I’ll always be grateful to the Academy of Light for giving me the tools to pursue my dreams. I’m still learning, still working hard, and still pushing myself to be the best I can be.”
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