Sunderland ‘to release’ trio as Florent Ghisolfi and Robin Nicholls shape summer plan | OneFootball

Sunderland are set to part company with academy trio Rhys Walsh, Oliver Bainbridge and Adam Richardson this summer.

According to Sunderland Echo, the trio have been released as part of summer planning led by sporting director Florent Ghisolfi and academy manager Robin Nicholls, with youth coach Graeme Murty involved. Jake Waters and Dan Cameron are also expected to depart when their contracts expire.

Walsh, 19, joined from Glentoran in 2024 for a fee and later spent time on loan at South Shields, scoring once in seven league games. He has represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level.

Bainbridge, 22, came through the academy and signed a two-year professional deal in 2023 with an option of a further year. He made 20 Premier League 2 appearances for the under-21s in 2023-24, scoring once and supplying two assists.

The full-back also gained senior experience on loan at Kilmarnock from August 2024, featuring against Tromsø IL in the UEFA Conference League. He later joined South Shields in 2025, playing 33 National League North matches and scoring five goals.

Goalkeeper Richardson, 22, has been with Sunderland since the age of eight. He represented England up to under-18 level and was on the first-team bench at Fleetwood Town in the Papa John’s Trophy in 2020 aged 17. His three-year professional deal is now ending after several non-league loans.

Source: Sunderland Echo