{"id":263681,"date":"2026-09-21T07:10:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/50m-star-in-the-making-sunderland-have-signed-more-exciting-talent-than-le-fee\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T07:10:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:10:16","slug":"50m-star-in-the-making-sunderland-have-signed-more-exciting-talent-than-le-fee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/50m-star-in-the-making-sunderland-have-signed-more-exciting-talent-than-le-fee\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a350m star in the making: Sunderland have signed more exciting talent than Le Fee"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It is fair to say that Sunderland<\/a> have hit the jackpot in the recruitment department with the work that they have done since returning to the Premier League<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Black Cats signed several proven European stars who elevated the quality of the team last summer when they brought in the likes of Granit Xhaka and Nordi Mukiele from Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Lee Smith<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Regis Le Bris<\/a>‘ side were also willing to take risks on players who had yet to prove themselves, either in England or elsewhere, and struck gold with several such signings.<\/p>\n

Enzo Le Fee was one of those players because he joined for \u00a319.3m from Roma<\/a> after failing to score a single goal or provide any assists during his time in Italy’s capital.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Enzo Le Fee was a risky signing for Sunderland<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

The French attacking midfielder was a risky signing for the Black Cats because they signed him permanently for the Premier League after he had an inconsistent six months in the Championship.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

24\/25 Championship<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Enzo Le Fee<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Appearances<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

xG<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Minutes per goal<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

999<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Big chances created<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Assists<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ground duel success rate<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Aerial duel success rate<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

44%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Le Fee showed flashes of quality, with two goal contributions in 15 matches, but he did not deliver goals and assists at a good enough rate to suggest that he was guaranteed to be a success in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, for the Frenchman and for Sunderland, the 26-year-old did make the step up to the top-flight and proved himself to be a reliable performer, scoring six goals and providing six assists in the 2025\/26 campaign.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"enzo-le-fee-sunderland-premier-league\"\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Peter Cziborra<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The former Rennes star also recently became the first Black Cats star to score a goal in a European competition since 1973 when he scored the winning goal from the spot against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Le Fee was a risky signing for the club, given his struggles at Roma and his inconsistent output in the second tier, but it is a risk that has ultimately paid off in the long run.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Sunderland already have a bigger talent than Enzo Le Fee<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

After finishing seventh in the Premier League and securing Europa League football, the Black Cats went into the recent summer transfer window knowing that they could take a few more risks in the transfer market.<\/p>\n