Enzo Le Fée Signs New Sunderland Contract Until 2031

Enzo Le Fée has signed a new Sunderland contract until 2031, extending a stay that began with a five-month loan from Roma in the Championship.

That sentence probably tells you enough about how Sunderland’s last 20 months have gone.

Le Fée arrived in January 2025 after barely getting a run at Roma and reunited with Régis Le Bris, who had already coached him at Lorient. At the time, Sunderland were trying to get back to the Premier League. By May, Le Fée had assisted in both legs of the play-off semi-final against Coventry City, including the corner for Dan Ballard’s extra-time winner, before playing the full game as Sheffield United were beaten 2-1 at Wembley.

The loan became permanent after promotion and Sunderland then made rather more of their first Premier League season in eight years than anyone expected.

Le Bris’ side finished seventh and qualified for Europe, only four years after they had still been playing in League One. Le Fée featured in 36 league matches, scoring five goals and providing six assists, but his importance went beyond the numbers. Sunderland did not dominate possession for long spells, so having a midfielder comfortable receiving under pressure, carrying the ball through tight areas and playing between different midfield roles became particularly useful.

Le Fée has often described himself as a number eight, though Sunderland have used him deeper, higher and from wider positions when required. That familiarity with Le Bris helps, but so does the fact he gives Sunderland something slightly different in possession. On a team built around energy, organisation and attacking quickly when spaces appear, he is often the player asked to slow things down for half a second and find the pass.

His Sunderland story got another fairly ridiculous chapter this month.

The club returned to European competition for the first time since their 1973/74 Cup Winners’ Cup campaign and beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. Le Fée scored the only goal from the penalty spot, making him the first Sunderland player to score in Europe in 53 years.

Twenty months earlier, he had been arriving on loan to help a Championship side through a promotion race.

A week after the AZ win, Sunderland handed him a contract until 2031.

“We’ve achieved something special together over the past couple of seasons, but I believe this is just the beginning.”

Director of football Florent Ghisolfi pointed to Le Fée’s quality, intelligence and personality after the deal was announced, while Sunderland have also moved to secure several other players who have been part of their recent rise.

Romaine Mundle, Robin Roefs, Jenson Seelt and Wilson Isidor have all agreed new contracts since the end of last season. Le Fée’s extension is arguably the clearest sign yet that Sunderland are not treating seventh place and European qualification as a nice surprise to frame and stick on the wall.

They are trying to keep the players who got them there.

Le Fée is now tied down through what should be the prime years of his career, and Sunderland have turned a loan move that initially looked ambitious for a Championship club into something much bigger.

Roma got ten appearances from him.

Sunderland got promotion, Europe and a European winner.

They have now made sure they get a few more years as well.