Simon Adingra the latest to join as Sunderland’s African contingent grows

The African revolution continues at Sunderland as the newly-promoted English Premier League side added another headline signing on Thursday with the addition of Ivory Coast national team winger Simon Adingra.

The transfer was rumored to be completed all week and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ Best Young Player is now with the Black Cats. The 23-year-old joins from Brighton & Hove Albion for a €24 million fee and is set to play a key role as Sunderland attempt to survive in the English top flight.

Adingra joins after contributing 8 goals and 3 assists in 60 Premier League games for Brighton. His role with Brighton declined a bit this past season with more substitute appearances compared to his debut season in England. Adingra spent his first season with Brighton on loan at Union SG in Belgium where he thrived in the Jupiler Pro League.

The Ivorian joins a group of African signings who arrive to give the club added top-level experience. Mozambique national team defender Reinildo Mandava joined earlier in the week and rising Belgian-Moroccan player Chemsdine Talbi’s move was confirmed on Wednesday.

Senegalese starlet Habib Diarra and DR Congo international Noah Sadiki are also key acquisitions with Diarra’s arrival the most expensive of all for Sunderland so far in the summer transfer window (€31.5 million).

With well over €100 million spent in the transfer market ahead of their return to the Premier League, Sunderland are showing their high ambitions with substantial investment in African national team players.