Reports suggesting the Sunderland striker is set “to leave” have been dismissed, with no bid lodged and the club under no pressure to sell
Reports claiming Brian Brobbey is set “to leave” Sunderland in a record-breaking deal have been firmly dismissed, with sources indicating the situation has been vastly overstated.
A report from FootballTransfers suggested the striker will depart this summer for a fee of around €40million (approximately £34million), after Bayern Munich were recently credited with strong interest. However, as things stand, their claim is understood to be wide of the mark. The outlet’s headline reads: “Exclusive: Brian Brobbey to leave Sunderland in record deal”.
However, The Echo understands there is no agreement in place for Brobbey to leave Sunderland, while there is no evidence to suggest Bayern Munich have even submitted an official bid for the forward at this stage. Sources have rubbished the suggestion that the Dutchman is actively on course for an exit, despite growing external speculation.
Brobbey only arrived on Wearside last summer from Ajax in a deal worth around €20million (approximately £17million) and signed a five-year contract, placing Sunderland in a strong position should interest materialise. While the striker has attracted attention following an encouraging first season in the Premier League - scoring six goals and registering an assist - the club are under no immediate pressure to sell.
Of course, as with any player, a significant offer could alter the picture as the summer transfer window approaches. But at present, there is no indication that a departure is imminent, nor that a deal is close. Brobbey remains a Sunderland player, and any suggestion he is set “to leave” does not reflect the current reality and is wide of the mark.
What has Régis Le Bris said about Brian Brobbey?
Brobbey scored the dramatic late winner against Newcastle United at St James’ Park and followed that up with another strong display against Tottenham Hotspur after the international break. Speaking after the final whistle on Tyneside, Le Bris was asked to assess the striker’s recent development and his display against the Tynesiders.
“I felt this week Brian at another level, really, during the training sessions,” Le Bris said. “The way he is now connected with his own performance, but also with his teammates. It's getting crazy, really, because the league is so demanding. He started the season with us at probably not the best fitness level, so he needed a bit of time to be ready to be competitive physically. When it was done, you still have to connect with your teammates.
“Now, progressively, with confidence and experience, we want to play with him. This connection through the middle is so hard to defend, so Newcastle wanted to be aggressive. We just wanted to attract them, play with Brian, support him, and now we can kill the press. Even in the final third, he's getting better, and he's a good, good striker.”
Brobbey joined Sunderland from Ajax on deadline day last summer, a move made possible after the Black Cats allowed loanee Marc Guiu to return to parent club Chelsea in London amid an attacking injury crisis - a sliding doors moment that has since worked firmly in Sunderland and Le Bris’ favour during the 2025-26 season thus far.
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