Sunderland weighing up Zak Johnson option as new Squad Cost Rules near | OneFootball

Sunderland are weighing up whether to activate a one-year option on England youth international Zak Johnson as Squad Cost Rules near. Sunderland Echo understands his contract expires this summer and no final decision has been taken.

The club are considering protecting their position rather than risk losing the defender for nothing, with any future fee likely to be modest.

Johnson, 21, is a centre-back who can also cover right-back. He has had loans at Hartlepool United, Dundalk, Notts County and recently York City.

His York spell ended with promotion on the National League’s final day, starting against Rochdale as City sealed the title and a return to League Two. He made 25 league appearances, with one goal and two assists, and 29 outings overall for 2,310 minutes.

Johnson made his senior Sunderland debut in October 2021, coming off the bench in an EFL Trophy win over Manchester United Under-21s. At 16 years and 141 days, he became the club’s youngest outfield player in almost 50 years. He later made a first start in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra in August 2023.

From 2026-27, these rules will cap eligible spending at 85% of football-related revenue, or a 70% UEFA threshold, with in-season monitoring. Sunderland are not seen as at risk and have been carefully run under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, but smaller decisions can still protect value.

Source: Sunderland Echo