Sunderland Competes with Premier League Rivals for £25m Striker Jay Stansfield

Sunderland has reportedly entered the race alongside three other Premier League clubs to acquire Birmingham City striker Jay Stansfield.

Following their qualification for the Europa League in the 2025-26 season, the Black Cats are preparing for a busy summer transfer window, aiming to bolster their squad with quality players.

Recently, Sunderland has shown interest in a young player from Bayer Leverkusen but faces tough competition from Premier League champions Arsenal for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international’s signature.

This upcoming season marks only the second time in Sunderland’s history that they will participate in European competition, where they will compete against renowned clubs like Juventus in the Europa League.

In addition to their impressive seventh-place finish in the Premier League during their long-awaited return, Sunderland also celebrated consecutive derby victories over local rivals Newcastle United.

© Imago.

Sunderland Joins Everton and Ipswich in Pursuit of Stansfield

According to SportsBoom, Sunderland is among several Premier League clubs vying for Stansfield, who recently made headlines playing for England’s Under-21 team in 2025.

The report indicates that Sunderland is keen on securing Stansfield, a fan favorite at Birmingham, as they seek additional competition and support for forward Brian Brobbey.

Birmingham City is reportedly reluctant to part with their star player and would only entertain offers starting at £25 million for the 23-year-old forward.

While no official bids have been made yet, it is anticipated that Sunderland will soon approach Birmingham following the club’s failure to gain promotion to the Premier League last season.

In addition to Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Hull City, and Everton are also interested in adding Stansfield to their squads ahead of the 2026-27 top-flight campaign.

© Imago.

Is Stansfield Prepared for a Premier League Move?

Stansfield currently has a contract with Birmingham that runs until the summer of 2031. He is considered a key figure in the club’s new era under American owners Knighthead, who invested significantly to secure his permanent signing in 2024.

The forward made headlines by breaking the League One transfer record when he joined St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park for an initial fee of £15 million in the summer of 2024.

Despite scoring ten goals in 44 Championship appearances last season, some may view this tally as underwhelming for a Premier League target. However, it should be noted that he spent much of last season playing in a deeper attacking role.