Robin Nicholls hails ‘fantastic opportunity’ as Ben Middlemas joins Swindon Town | OneFootball

Ben Middlemas has left Sunderland to join Swindon Town on a permanent deal. The 21-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, with Swindon five points behind leaders Bromley and holding a game in hand in League Two.

Academy manager Robin Nicholls described the move as a fantastic opportunity and said the academy believes he is ready for his next step, praising Middlemas’s attributes and acknowledging the roles of his family and staff at the Academy of Light.

Middlemas has been a key figure for Graeme Murty’s U21s this season, making 19 appearances and frequently wearing the captain’s armband.

He was first named in a senior matchday squad at 16, gained further first-team experience on loan with South Shields in 2024, and was on the bench for August’s Carabao Cup defeat to Huddersfield Town.

With loans arranged for Timothee Pembele and Trey Ogunsuyi, and permanent exits for Jay Matete and Middlemas, more departures could follow in the coming weeks as Sunderland seek to trim their squad.

Source: Sunderland Echo