Niall Huggins joins PFA free agent pre-season group after Sunderland exit | OneFootball

Niall Huggins has joined the PFA’s free agent pre-season programme as he looks for a new club for the 2026-27 campaign.

The PFA confirmed that 39 free agents joined for the first week of pre-season, with Huggins listed among the defenders. The programme helps out-of-contract players stay fit, access elite training and showcase themselves to clubs and representatives.

Huggins departed Sunderland this summer after an injury-hit spell on Wearside. The 25-year-old arrived from Leeds United in summer 2021, highly rated, but recurring fitness problems repeatedly stalled his progress.

When available he showed quality and versatility, comfortable on either flank. His standout Sunderland moment came in 2023-24, a long-range strike against Watford at the Stadium of Light that was later named the club’s Goal of the Season.

Momentum proved hard to build, and injuries curtailed his involvement across several campaigns. Sunderland chose not to extend his deal this summer as Florent Ghisolfi kept reshaping the squad and the academy pathway.

Huggins will hope the PFA programme helps him land his next move. He is part of a sizeable group training with the organisation this summer, and clubs can register interest in available players.

Source: Sunderland Echo