Sunderland make triple contract call under Florent Ghisolfi and Robin Nicholls | OneFootball

Sunderland have made a triple contract call as summer planning continues under sporting director Florent Ghisolfi and academy manager Robin Nicholls.

Sunderland Echo understands that youngsters Rhys Walsh, Oliver Bainbridge and Adam Richardson have been released, with youth coach Graeme Murty involved in the process. The report added that Jake Waters and Dan Cameron are also set to leave when their contracts expire this summer.

Walsh, 19, arrived from Glentoran in 2024 for a fee, having made his senior debut in August 2023 in a 1-0 win at Glenavon. A Northern Ireland youth international at under-17 to under-19, he later spent time on loan at South Shields, making seven league outings and scoring once.

Bainbridge, 22, came through the academy and signed a two-year deal in 2023 with an option, featuring 20 times with one goal and two assists for the under-21s in 2023-24. He had senior loans at Kilmarnock, debuting against Celtic and appearing in the UEFA Conference League, then at South Shields in 2025 where he made 33 league appearances and scored five.

Goalkeeper Richardson, 22, has been at Sunderland since the age of eight and stands 6ft 6in. An England youth international up to under-18 level, he was on the first-team bench for a Papa John’s Trophy tie at Fleetwood Town in 2020 and later featured in pre-season under Tony Mowbray. His three-year professional contract is ending, after non-league loan spells.

The calls arrive as Sunderland, newly promoted to the Premier League, reassess pathways for emerging players.

Source: Sunderland Echo