Elliot Embleton says his dad steered Sunderland to Dan Ballard after Millwall loan | OneFootball

Former Sunderland midfielder Elliot Embleton says his father recommended Dan Ballard to the club before the defender’s 2022 move from Arsenal, after a loan at Millwall.

“To be fair, my dad scouted Sunderland and the first thing he said after that season was, ‘If you need a centre-half, you need to get Dan Ballard.’” According to Sunderland Echo, Embleton and Ballard became close during a loan at Blackpool in 2020-21.

The pair helped Blackpool win promotion from League One via the play-offs. Ballard returned to Arsenal, then spent the next season at Millwall. Embleton went back to Sunderland.

Ballard became available in summer 2022 after Sunderland’s promotion to the Championship. He joined permanently from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee. “My dad had mentioned to whoever worked there that he was available, and obviously I spoke to him and I was trying to get him there.”

“He didn’t really say much at the time, but then I got the phone call, and he was like, ‘I’m on my way up.’ Honestly, I was buzzing personally because I’m good friends with him, but then I knew he was a brilliant player.”

Ballard has since established himself in the Premier League and signed a Sunderland contract until 2029, with an option for another year. “Now he’s one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League from what I’ve watched. He’s down to earth, and I think he’ll get better and better as he goes on.”

Source: Sunderland Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”