Sunderland ‘to assess’ Icelandic teenager Thorvaldur Smari Jonsson on trial this month | OneFootball

Sunderland are set to take a closer look at Icelandic midfielder Thorvaldur Smari Jonsson later this month.

According to Dr Football, the HK midfielder is due to spend a short spell at the Academy of Light later this month as the club assess him. He remains under contract with HK and made 11 appearances in Iceland’s second tier last season.

Under Florent Ghisolfi and head coach Régis Le Bris, the Black Cats have enjoyed a strong first season back in the Premier League. Recruitment remains centred on emerging talent, and any trial would underline a Europe-wide search for prospects.

Aji Alese has been ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing his groin while on loan at Portsmouth. The 25-year-old was hurt shortly after coming off the bench in last weekend’s defeat to Preston North End, his debut after a January switch. Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho said after the 1-0 loss to Sheffield United that the extent of the injury means Alese is most likely out for the campaign, acknowledging the risk given his lack of recent minutes.

It is another setback for Alese, who had not played for Sunderland in over a year due to a serious shoulder issue and a broken leg in January 2025. His move to Fratton Park was meant to provide minutes, but his return lasted only a few minutes before injury intervened.

Source: Sunderland Echo