One pundit believes Enzo Le Fee is a massively underrated player for Sunderland.
BBC Radio Newcastle’s Nick Barnes has hailed the influence Enzo Le Fee has had on Sunderland’s play this season, believing the Frenchman to be a supremely underrated figure.
Le Fee joined the Black Cats on loan from Roma in January 2025, registering a goal and three assists in 18 Championship appearances to help deliver promotion back to the Premier League.
That move was made permanent over the summer, and Le Fee has hit new levels in the English top flight, registering four goals and four assists in 30 Premier League appearances, and another strike against Everton in the FA Cup.
Enzo Le Fee underrated at Sunderland?
Le Fee’s nine direct goal contributions is a team-high this season, while he’s also first among his teammates in league play for chances created (38) and through-balls attempted (10).
It’s for these reasons that Barnes believes Le Fee deserves more of the limelight, which has been occupied this season by the likes of Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs and, more recently, Brian Brobbey.
“I’ve had a couple of discussions with people about Enzo Le Fee. I think he’s brilliant,” Barnes said in a show alongside former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini.
“Some people think he doesn’t do enough, he fades out of games. I think his passing is second to none. He’s a brilliant technical player, and he leads with nine goal contributions.”
Barnes continued: “I think it underlines just how important Enzo Le Fee is to Brian Brobbey as well. Because that’s the conversation I had at the beginning of the week, about Brian Brobbey. We’re all talking about how good he is, how powerful he is, and he’s getting better and better. We’ve not talked much about Le Fee and how important he’s been in Brobbey’s development.
“When Le Fee is able to play in his favoured position, it’s amazing how influential he is in games, and he works really hard. He’ll get back and defend, he’ll drift in from the left.
“I know some of his passing went a little bit awry against Tottenham, but I think he was just tired. But sometimes, he’s a little magician! All of this talk about interest in Brian Brobbey/Robin Roefs/Noah Sadiki and yet nobody ever talks about Le Fee. He has been one of the players that's having one of the biggest influences in games."
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