Sunderland sporting director Florent Ghisolfi has explained why the club moved to tie Enzo Le Fee down to a new contract, and what they expect from the midfielder in the future. Le Fee signed a new long-term deal this week, committing his future to the club until the summer of 2031.
The 26-year-old playmaker joined Sunderland on loan from Roma in January 2025, when the club were in the Championship. The move was made permanent after Sunderland earned promotion to the Premier League, and he has since become one of the division's standout players.
Four key attributes
Ghisolfi says there are four key attributes that Le Fee possesses, and they don't all relate to what he produces on the pitch.
“Enzo is a very important player for us, but also an important person within our group,” he said. “He has quality, intelligence and personality, but what we value just as much is his humility and the way he represents Sunderland every day.”
“I have a special relationship with Enzo, and I’m very happy and proud to see the journey he has made here. He arrived in the Championship, helped the club return to the Premier League, experienced Europe with Sunderland, and there are still many chapters for us to write together.”
Continuity and trust
Ghisolfi said the new contract is about continuity and trust in the club's project. “We want to give time to this team and to this project, while staying true to who we are. We know where we come from, we stay humble, and we keep building step by step,” he said.
“Enzo understands that identity. He believes in what we are building, and we believe there is still more to come from him and from this team.”
Le Fee said he is delighted to commit his future to the club and believes he can play a key role in helping Sunderland establish themselves as a Premier League force. “From the moment I arrived, I’ve felt the passion of the supporters and the ambition of everyone at the club – I’ve loved my time here,” he told the club website.
Rise to prominence
Le Fee scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Luton Town, before helping Sunderland to a Wembley triumph against Sheffield United in May 2025. He provided two assists across both semi-final legs against Coventry City, including the cross for Dan Ballard's header at the Stadium of Light.
During his first Premier League campaign, Le Fee featured 36 times, scoring five goals and providing six assists as Sunderland secured a seventh-place finish and European qualification. He has continued that form into the new campaign, scoring twice already this season, including the match-winner against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. He has also gone close to being included in France's plans for the Nations League fixtures.
