Enzo Le Fee. (Alex Dodd/CameraSport)
Sunderland have secured a dramatic return to the Premier League after an eight-season absence, defeating Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium over the weekend.
The Black Cats fell behind in the 25th minute when Tyrese Campbell – son of the late Kevin Campbell – finished off a swift counter-attack orchestrated by Gustavo Hamer.
But Regis Le Bris’s side refused to fold.
In the 76th minute, Eliezer Mayenda pulled Sunderland level with a brilliant solo effort. Then, deep into stoppage time, 18-year-old forward Tommy Watson – who is set to join Brighton & Hove Albion this summer – curled in a dramatic 95th-minute winner, ending his Sunderland career in unforgettable fashion.
Speaking after the match, manager Le Bris praised his team’s determination: “We kept the resilience and that is one of the main strengths of this team. Even when it is tough and they struggle, they stay connected and they don’t give up.”
Looking ahead to top-flight football for the first time since 2017/18, the Frenchman said: “The Premier League is really hard and tough – the most competitive league in the world. We will have another tough challenge, but we will see later.”
“It is really impressive the way they believed in their dream. The players told me earlier in the season that they wanted to get promoted, and they have done it – congratulations to them,” he added.
Le Fée Signing Confirmed Following Promotion
With Premier League challenges on the horizon, Sunderland have wasted no time strengthening their squad. The club has confirmed the permanent signing of Enzo Le Fée from AS Roma.
Le Fée initially joined on loan in January, but, according to The Mirror, his contract included a £19 million obligation-to-buy clause, which was triggered automatically by Sunderland’s promotion — specifically, by Watson’s late winner at Wembley.
The 25-year-old French midfielder has been instrumental in Sunderland’s second-half surge this season, earning plaudits for his creativity and composure in midfield.
Former Black Cats defender Gary Bennett offered high praise for Le Fée back in February:
“From what we’ve seen so far, wow. Twenty million will be money very well spent. He’s 100% quality,” Bennett told BBC Radio Newcastle, as quoted by The Guardian.
While Le Fée’s arrival is a major boost, Sunderland will need to be active in the summer transfer market if they’re to compete in the Premier League and avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
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