Norwich City have signed Sunderland prospect Bali Mumba on a four-year deal, as revealed by Sunderland’s official website.
The 18-year-old joins the Canaries for an undisclosed fee and becomes their third signing of the summer window. Mumba hasn’t appeared for Sunderland’s first team in the league this season, having made his first-team debut in the Championship back in 2018. However, since that cameo, he has started two League One matches, both under Jack Ross last season. He has also represented England’s youth teams at every age group from under 16s through to under 19s.
He captained the side against Wolves in the Championship, a symbolic gesture to welcome in the dawn of the Stewart Donald era, but since then he’s faded away, much like the supposed future they were heralding in. Last season, he spent time on loan with South Shields and leaves the Stadium of Light with just ten outings in total.
That hasn’t deterred the Canaries, who have clearly seen the potential in the Academy of Light graduate. He’s naturally excited to be stepping up to the Championship, saying “It feels very good and I’m raring to go. The club is big with a good history behind it and I’m looking forward to getting started so I can show everyone around the club what I can do.
“Fans can expect hard work and 100 percent in all that I do. I believe I’m a positive person with a good energy. I’ve watched Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis a lot. I’ve seen how they’ve progressed through the system and have continued to develop and that’s exactly what I’m hoping to replicate.”
Naturally, Sunderland fans are disappointed at losing another of their academy graduates. Mumba follows the likes of Joel Osorio and Josh Maja out of the door, and they’ve voiced their displeasure on social media this afternoon.
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Another academy graduate that we have failed, embarrassing
— Lewis (@Lewis_h__) July 27, 2020
Same old pathetic sell our best young talent and run around on the last day of the transfer window and bring in absolute garbage. There is no ambition to get us promoted if there was we would have a decent manager, coaches and players. All you have is fantastic supporters! FACT.
— DV (@DVTheCoach) July 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/adamreeek/status/1287765022102433792
Another nice little cash injection to keep the conman ticking over for the next few weeks, in exchange for our best young player 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Herra (@JHerra18) July 27, 2020
Disgrace of a club, complete and utter shambles 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
— Andrew Malcolmson (@podmundo) July 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/TopOTGoths/status/1287765366773514241
Based on where we are we should have been playing him, Embleton, Robson etc. Couldn’t have been worse. 2 years ago they were good enough to be loaned to league one but now not good enough to play for a league one team. Asset stripping at its best while Grigg, Wyke etc still here!
— Oisty T (@OistyTFFXIV) July 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/StuHooley/status/1287766280062238720
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