Sunderland have completed the acquisition of midfielder Jules Ahoka from Belgian club Royal Antwerp in a deal valued at 10 million euros, equivalent to £8.6 million. The 20-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who holds youth international status, has committed to a long-term agreement with the Premier League club.
Ahoka made appearances in both of Antwerp's league fixtures during the current season before his departure. Speaking after finalising the move, he expressed his enthusiasm about joining the club.
I am very happy and proud to join Sunderland. It is a big club with great ambitions, and I am excited to be here. I want to work hard, learn from my team-mates and the staff, and continue developing as a player. I will give everything for the club and I cannot wait to get started.
The midfielder represents Sunderland's third addition during the summer transfer window. He follows the earlier arrivals of Belgian left-back Thomas Meunier and French right-back Dayann Methalie, as the club continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the new season.
What does the club see in Ahoka?
Florent Ghisolfi, Sunderland's director of football, outlined the reasoning behind the acquisition.
Jules is a player we have been following closely and he has shown some very encouraging qualities for his age. He has huge potential and we believe Sunderland is the right environment for him to continue his development.
The signing reflects Sunderland's strategy of investing in young talent with significant upside, positioning the club to develop players during their formative years in professional football.
Where does this fit in Sunderland's season?
The acquisition comes following a challenging start to Sunderland's Premier League campaign. The club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town in their opening fixture on Saturday. Their next engagement sees them travel to face Fulham on Sunday at 14:00 GMT, offering an immediate opportunity to respond to the opening-day loss.
The timing of Ahoka's arrival provides the club with additional midfield depth as they seek to establish themselves in the top flight and build momentum through the early stages of the season.
