Sunderland have signed Nordi Mukiele from PSG in a £12m transfer.
Mukiele’s move comes after he spent last season on loan at Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen where he scored twice in 24 appearances, having fallen out of favour at PSG who have accepted a £12m offer from Sunderland which consisted of £9.5m fixed fee plus £2.5m in add-ons.
Mukiele has signed a four-year contract on Wearside and is excited to embrace “a new challenge” after having witnessed the Black Cats’ 3-0 Premier League victory at home to West Ham, as he prepares to wear the number 20 shirt this season.
“It’s a new challenge and I’m happy to be here. I saw the atmosphere of the stadium, and this is something I really like. The fans are very important in football, and especially in Sunderland. I came here to fight for them.
“I see some good players and see their quality, so I believe that we can do something good together – and when I say together, I mean the players, the fans and the city. We will need everyone this season.”
The move also reunited Mukiele with his ex Leverkusen teammate, Granit Xhaka who left the Bundesliga club this summer for Sunderland.
Sunderland’s Sporting Director, Kristjaan Speakman added: “Nordi possesses rare athletic qualities that are perfectly suited to our team in the Premier League.
“In addition, he has tactical versatility as a right back and centre back – for these reasons, we felt it was an acquisition we needed to make to enhance our group.
“He’s had a variety of experiences in Europe, including in the Champions League, and now he’s motivated to show his ability for Sunderland AFC in the Premier League. We’re delighted to complete this deal.”
Mukiele began his senior career at Laval where he scored twice in 41 appearances following his graduation from their B-team in November 2014, and went on to spend two years at Montpellier before a four-season stint at RB Leipzig saw him net 10 goals in 146 appearances.
Leipzig won the 2021-22 DFB-Pokal in which Mukiele made two appearances before he moved to PSG in summer 2022, which yielded 45 appearances in all competitions as the Paris-based club won consecutive Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions titles plus 2023-24 Coupe de France.