Ronald Koeman makes Brian Brobbey admission after Sunderland form change | OneFootball

Ronald Koeman has praised Brian Brobbey’s upturn at Sunderland but underlined that Memphis Depay, now at Corinthians, remains the Netherlands’ first-choice striker.

“Yes, there’s no reason to change that,” Koeman said. “If that remains the case, he’ll essentially be my striker.” Speaking on ESPN NL’s Goedemorgen Eredivisie.

Brobbey joined Sunderland from Ajax on deadline day last summer in a deal worth around €20million plus bonuses, approximately £17million. The fee raised eyebrows after a difficult spell in Amsterdam.

The 24-year-old struggled early under Régis Le Bris and drew criticism in the Dutch media, then his performances improved in recent weeks. Koeman acknowledged that trajectory.

“He did well,” Koeman said. “He has made really big strides in that regard.”

“Fitness and intensity, both with and without the ball,” Koeman explained. “At Ajax, he was never truly fit, as strange as that may sound.”

The Netherlands face Norway and Ecuador in the upcoming international break, but Brobbey is unlikely to feature. He has not played for his country since March 2025 and has been out with a groin injury since February, missing Sunderland’s FA Cup defeat to Port Vale.

Source: Sunderland Echo