Simon Adingra will shine at Sunderland and will be a major asset for the Premier League returnees this season.
That’s according to former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, [speaking to Africa Foot](https://africafoot.com/salomon-kalou-est-convaincu-que-simon-adingra-brillera-a-sunderland/), who believes the Sunderland signing has everything to be a future star.
Adingra joined Sunderland in a joined Sunderland in a €24.4m move from Brighton five days ago, becoming the latest big money new arrival at the Stadium of Light this summer.
He’s hoping to kickstart his career after a frustrating two years at Brighton after returning from a loan spell at Union SG in 2022.
He failed to establish himself with the Seagulls under a series of managers, despite flashes on his ability at times, and only managed 12 starts in the Premier League last season despite 29 appearances in the league in total.
That’s likely to be very different at Sunderland, where they will be hoping he can prove the difference in what may be a difficult campaign in their first year back in the Premier League.
Kalou certainly has faith his compatriot and has backed him to make a major impact at Sunderland in the short and long-term.
“I think he (Adingra) will excel at Sunderland, that’s for sure,” he said.
“He’s a brilliant player who brings a touch of originality to the teams he plays for. He’s a player who drives the ball, beats opponents, and creates chances. For me, he will be a major asset for Sunderland.
“His ability with the ball, for such a young player, is excellent. I love the way he receives the ball, his calmness, and his awareness. He has irresistible qualities if he’s in the right position, so he just needs to keep working hard. I think Sunderland have signed a quality player.
“Simon (Adingra) has all the qualities to become a top-level player. We saw what he did for Côte d’Ivoire at the last Africa Cup of Nations. He’s a humble boy, and if he continues like this, the future is bright.”