24-Year-Old Ditched Manchester United For Sunderland: Is He The Key To Black Cats’ European Dreams? | OneFootball

Voetbal International, via Sport Witness, just dropped a fascinating look at how things work behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light. The report also showed exactly where Manchester United missed out. It turns out the Red Devils tried hard to get Brian Brobbey to Old Trafford before he eventually moved to Sunderland.

The former United manager Erik ten Hag led the charge himself back in 2022. He really wanted to team up with his old Ajax player again and put a big €40m offer on the table. But the Dutch striker chose to stay in Amsterdam back then. He basically turned his back on the Premier League giants.

Everything changed last summer. Sunderland hit a wall when Marc Guiu left out of nowhere. Chelsea had originally loaned the young Spaniard to the Black Cats. But they called him back almost instantly because Liam Delap got injured. This mess left Régis Le Bris scrambling for a real fix.

That search led the club to drop €20m plus bonuses on Brobbey. The Italian club Como tried to grab him, too. Still, Brobbey couldn’t say no to the plan Sunderland sold him on. Since arriving, the 24-year-old has become a massive part of the team. He’s already notched five goals and an assist in 21 games.

Is Brobbey the Key to Sunderland’s European Dreams?

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 24: Brian Brobbey of Sunderland warms up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Choosing Sunderland over a huge name like Manchester United says a lot. It shows that top-tier young players now see a real path to the top at the Stadium of Light. By signing the Dutch striker, the club got a physical powerhouse they didn’t have before.

He’s totally different from technical, speedy players like João Pedro or Hugo Ekitiké. He’s great at holding off defenders and winning fouls in the box. This gives Le Bris a tactical wall up front. It lets the midfield push forward without worrying as much.

Right now, Sunderland are sitting pretty in 11th place. They are nowhere near the relegation battle that usually ruins life for promoted teams. That bargain price the Dutch press talked about looks better every day. Especially since Brobbey’s value is now creeping toward €30m.

Having him there has completely changed how the team attack. They don’t have to rely on the hit-or-miss, drifting forwards they used to have. If the owners keep supporting Le Bris and put some top-tier playmakers around Brobbey, the club might finally move past being just okay and start fighting for a spot in Europe.