Manchester United’s Wales international Mared Griffiths joins Sunderland on loan | OneFootball

Mared Griffiths (SAFC)

Mared Griffiths has joined Sunderland on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.

Sunderland’s head coach Melanie Reay said: “We’re delighted to add Mared to our squad for the rest of the season. She’s an exciting, attacking young player who’s ready to take the next step into senior football and we hope we can help her to do that while allowing her to contribute effectively to our team.”

The 18-year-old forward has featured in United squads since December 2024, and scored her first goals for the cup in the Women’s FA Cup triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.

Progressing through the academy as well as the FAW set-up, she signed her first professional contract last summer, and scored her first senior goal for Wales in October 2025, finding the net in a victory over Australia.

Mared Griffiths: her football career

When she signed her first deal at United, Griffiths spoke of her ambition to the club’s official website, saying: “Once I left the FAW Academy in North Wales, moving up to Manchester and playing with the Under-21s there’s always an aim [to play in the first team].

“You can’t just settle down with just playing for the 21s. I think every player has to set high standards for themselves and you have to back yourself to be able to do it one day.”

This is her first spell away from Manchester United.

Sunderland’s season so far

Sunderland are currently eighth in WSL2, and their next match comes in a few days when they host Sheffield United on Friday evening.

They lost 3-0 to third-placed Bristol City last time out but enjoyed a 1-0 win over fifth-placed Southampton before that.

With a goal difference of -5, they will be hoping that Griffiths’ attacking abilities will have an immediate impact.

They are out of the Women’s FA Cup having lost 1-0 to London City Lionesses in the fourth round.