Dennis Cirkin confirms Sunderland exit after emotional farewell to Wearside | OneFootball

On Tuesday evening Dennis Cirkin said in a social media post that his time on Wearside had come to an end. From the double promotion-winning core, only Luke O’Nien and Trai Hume now look likely to stay beyond the summer.

With his contract running down during a Premier League season that delivered European qualification, and Reinildo Mandava ahead in Regis Le Bris’ plans, a parting had long felt likely.

Cirkin’s farewell paired a heartfelt message of gratitude for club and city with a video charting his Sunderland journey. It struck a tender note.

The montage shows his first day at the Academy of Light, then Championship surges, goals against West Brom and Coventry City, and a raft of headers for a left-back. It culminates at Wembley last summer, an afternoon etched into Mackem folklore.

On the final day, after the whistle against Chelsea, he appeared to take it all in. In hindsight, it read like goodbye.

Where he plays next is unclear. Injuries have sometimes been ill timed, but if he stays fit he could be a valuable option in the Championship, the Premier League or abroad. In his video he called his first Premier League start a “dream come true”, and he leaves as a fully fledged Premier League footballer who helped Sunderland realise theirs too.

Source: Sunderland Echo