Midfielder Pierre Ekwah will return to Sunderland at the end of the season following Saint Etienne’s relegation to Ligue 2, according to L’Equipe.
The 23-year-old headed to France on a season-long loan deal last summer that included a £6 million option to buy. Having joined the Black Cats in January 2023 from West Ham United, he broke into the team late in the season to help his new team earn a place in the Championship play-offs.
His first full season at the Stadium of Light started brightly but performances soon dropped as the Wearsiders fizzled out to finish 16th. The arrival of Regis Le Bris seemed to signal the end of his stay in the North East and the move to Saint Etienne was finalised in August last year.
The former Chelsea youngster has featured heavily for the French outfit, making 31 appearances in all competitions. However, their relegation was confirmed with a 3-2 defeat against Toulouse on Saturday, putting an end to any hopes they could trigger the option to buy clause.
What Next For Ekwah?
Ekwah still has two years to run on his existing deal, but his future could all rest on what happens this weekend. Sunderland face Sheffield United in the play-off final with a place in the Premier League up for grabs.
Should Le Bris and co secure a return to the top tier for the first time since 2017, it’s difficult to see him forcing his way back into the team. A defeat will see them remain in the Championship though, which is likely to kickstart a fire sale.
The likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg continue to garner interest from a host of top clubs across the continent. They stand a much better chance of retaining their services if they are in the Premier League, but will face a battle if not. Should the duo leave, Ekwah may still get an opportunity to salvage his career at the Stadium of Light.
Writer’s View
Ekwah has previously been non-committal over his future whilst Saint Etienne were embroiled in a relegation scrap. He said in February that his only focus was improving performances on the pitch, whilst putting his personal feelings to one side. Their relegation leaves him in somewhat of a limbo and now he looks set to return to Sunderland, he will be keep to get his future sorted as soon as possible.
