THE 2030 CLAUSE? INSIDE THE SECRET OPTION IN DAN BALLARD’S NEW SUNDERLAND CONTRACT
Dan Ballard has signed a new contract with Sunderland until 2029, with Florian Ghisolfi hailing him as the club’s ultimate leader.
Florian Ghisolfi can’t say enough good things about Dan Ballard. After the Northern Ireland international put pen to paper on a new contract with Sunderland, Ghisolfi’s praise felt genuine. He called Ballard a true leader, someone who really captures what Sunderland is all about, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, especially now that the club’s back in the Premier League.
Ballard, who’s 26, has signed on to stay at Sunderland until the summer of 2029, with the club having the option to keep him for another year after that.
“Dan represents both the legacy and the future of Sunderland AFC,” Ghisolfi said. “He shows our identity through the way he works, the way he plays, and the attitude he brings every day. He’s grown into a Premier League defender, sure, but what stands out is how he’s stepped up as a leader in the dressing room. We’re proud he shares our ambition. His commitment sends a strong message about what Sunderland stands for and what we’re aiming for.”
Since joining permanently from Arsenal in 2022, Ballard has pulled on the red and white shirt 114 times and found the net eight times. Last season, he scored that unforgettable goal against Coventry City in the Championship play-off semi-final, the one that sent Sunderland to Wembley.
This season’s been another good one for him: 25 appearances in all competitions, along with two goals and a couple of assists.
For Ballard, the decision to stay was simple. “I’m absolutely delighted to sign a new contract,” he said. “As soon as we started talking, it just felt right. I’m really happy I get to stay here longer. Getting promoted last season was unbelievable, and I feel lucky to have been part of some special moments in the club’s recent history. This year, I just wanted to keep my place, work hard every day, and help out as much as I can. I want to keep improving and push the club forward for a long time.”
SUNDERLAND CONDEMNS "VILE" RACIST ABUSE AIMED AT BRIAN BROBBEY AFTER SPURS WIN
Brian Brobbey targeted online! Sunderland and the Premier League unite against "vile" discrimination after Spurs win.
Sunderland called out the racist abuse aimed at Brian Brobbey on social media and made it clear they stand fully behind him.
Brobbey was targeted online right after Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. On Monday, the club released a statement: “Sunderland condemns in the strongest possible terms the racist abuse directed at Brian Brobbey on social media following Sunday’s fixture against Tottenham. We stand firmly with Brian and offer him our full and unwavering support.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time Sunderland players have had to deal with this kind of abuse this season. After February’s match against Fulham, Romaine Mundle received hateful messages online, and last month the Tyne-Wear derby had to be paused when someone in the crowd reportedly aimed abuse at Lutsharel Geertruida.
The club’s statement continued: “This isn’t an isolated event. The recent abuse aimed at Romaine Mundle and Lutsharel Geertruida shows just how often and how unacceptably this keeps happening, both at matches and on the internet. We’ve reported this latest incident to the Premier League, the social media platforms, and the police, and we expect them to act quickly against the people responsible. Racism is vile, and it doesn’t belong in football or anywhere else. We’ll keep calling it out, clearly and without hesitation, every time it happens. Football should be safe and welcoming for everyone, no exceptions.”
The Premier League is backing Brobbey as well. In a post on their X account, they said they’re “disgusted by the ongoing discrimination” players keep facing online. “We stand alongside Sunderland in strongly condemning the online racist abuse Brian Brobbey has received and have offered our full support to him and the club. We are disgusted by the ongoing discrimination players are facing on social media and are committed to working with clubs, authorities, law enforcement, and social media companies to address this issue, as well as supporting investigations to bring those responsible to justice.
Anyone found guilty of discrimination will face the toughest possible punishments: jail time, football bans, and even a criminal record.”
DAVID MOYES REVEALS "NERVES" AS EVERTON HUNT HISTORIC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION SPOT
David Moyes admits Everton's Champions League hunt is nerve-wracking. See the latest on the Toffees' battle for Europe.
David Moyes admits the idea of Everton making the Champions League this soon in their rebuild actually makes him “shake a wee bit.”
You look at the club now, and it's hard to believe where they were just 14 months ago. When Moyes returned, Everton looked beaten down from years of fighting to stay up. Suddenly, with only seven games left, they’re sitting eighth. That spot could mean Europa Conference League football, but after their win against Chelsea before the break, they’re now just three points off fourth. It’s wild to even talk about the Champions League, but it’s right there in reach.
Reporters put the question to him how does it feel to be this close? With Europe’s spots possibly extending down to fifth (or maybe even further, depending on how other English clubs do), Moyes wasn’t hiding his nerves: “It’s probably the best shot we’ve had in a long time. But when I hear ‘Champions League’? Makes me shake a wee bit, honestly. I’ve been lucky to manage in Europe’s other competitions lately, and if we do make it, I’m sure we’d be able to hold our own at certain stages. Still, the Champions League is just on another level.”
Everton’s next match at Brentford looks huge for their European dreams. Brentford beat them earlier in the season, and right now, both teams are level, separated only by goal difference.
Moyes is clearly enjoying this chapter. “Listen, Europe’s Europe. If someone had said at the start, ‘You’re going to get European football,’ we’d have snapped their hand off. It could be the tiddlywinks European cup, and we’d be up for it. Evertonians want the club back in those conversations. We’re getting attention for the new stadium, we’ve got a couple of England internationals getting noticed more, it’s a good time. If we do sneak into the Champions League, it’d be an unbelievable achievement. But honestly, no matter which competition we make, it’s still a big step forward for us.”
