Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs has admitted he didn’t have to think twice about the move this summer.
[He’s been speaking to ELF Voetbal](https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/285687/nec-recordverkoop-robin-roefs-floreert-bij-sunderland-ben-een-keeper-die-een-beetje-spanning-nodig-heeft) about a busy summer, and how Sunderland convinced him they were the right pick.
The Dutchman was one of the more low-key arrivals for Sunderland this summer in a busy transfer window. He arrived in a €10.5m deal from NEC Nijmegen. Other than free transfers, that was the second cheapest deal of the summer for them.
The 22-year-old has proven to be great value for money early on, though. He’s quickly established himself as first-choice goalkeeper under Regis Le Bris and proven worthy of the spot too.
He’s kept four clean sheets in eight Premier League games to date and been a key player in Sunderland’s strong start to the campaign.
The young goalkeeper had plenty of options in the summer after impressing in the Netherlands during his time with NEC. Dutch giants Ajax were believed to be keen, while Napoli and West Ham have also been mentioned.
But he says Sunderland were the only ones who convinced him with the proposal that they put to him and his entourage.
“I heard those rumours, but I never heard of a club making an offer,” he said.
“No club from the Netherlands officially contacted me. After the season, I sat down with my agents, Robin Janssen and Anton Janssen from SEG. We discussed several scenarios for my future. I didn’t necessarily have to leave, but if a good opportunity arose, I was open to it.
“After the European Championship, the influx of interested clubs really started. They probably also saw that I was one of the few players under contract with a smaller club.
“Many clubs didn’t pursue the matter because they still had to sell a goalkeeper or gain more financial security in some other way.”
“Sunderland made it clear from the start. Their technical director knew one of the two Keesens from SEG well. From the very first moment, they made it clear they wanted me as their first-choice goalkeeper.
“At other clubs, I would probably have had to start as second choice. Playing time was important to me. And of course, the Premier League is the strongest league in the world. Everything came together in three days.”