Adil Aouchiche to seal deadline-busting Sunderland move as terms agreed
Schalke have agreed terms to sign Sunderland midfielder Adil Aouchiche on a permanent deal.
Aouchiche has been out on loan with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen this season, but he’s now set to see that stint terminated so he can sign for the 2.Bundesliga outfit before Monday’s 7 pm deadline.
Sunderland appear to have got most of their winter transfer business done ahead of the cut-off point, with Melker Ellborg arriving from Malmo on Sunday.
That deal enabled Anthony Patterson to secure a loan move to Championship promotion hopefuls Millwall, where he will look to compete for the starting role at The Den.
Adil Aouchiche agrees to Sunderland free transfer
Aberdeen negotiated a £1.5million purchase option for Aouchiche upon completing his loan transfer with Sunderland in this season’s summer window, which would’ve been a club-record fee for the Scottish side.
However, the 23-year-old has endured a mixed bag of performances at Pittodrie and has struggled for consistency despite starting 16 Premiership games for them this term.
Aouchiche signed for Sunderland in the summer of 2023 from Lorient, and with three first-team appearances for Paris Saint-Germain on his CV, Black Cats supporters were excited about his potential.
Unfortunately, the versatile midfielder struggled to make an impact at the Stadium of Light, having made 38 total appearances for Sunderland during his time on Wearside, culminating in just two goals.
Now, Aouchiche is finally set to say his Sunderland goodbyes for good, as German Sky Sports reporter Patrick Berger via X has revealed that Schalke have agreed terms for a free transfer.
Berger reports that barring any major twists, Aouchiche’s move should go through before 7 pm, with the player having agreed to the move and the terms offered, with just a final agreement between the two clubs to be struck.
Sunderland’s free transfer willingness is a surprise
Upon signing for Sunderland in September 2023, Aouchiche penned a five-year contract on Wearside.
That means his current deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2028, so it’s not as though Sunderland needed to be in any real rush to get him off their books.
And, Aouchiche hasn’t been a flop with Aberdeen by any means, despite not ripping it up in Scotland, so he could’ve returned in the summer as a player who should’ve been able to command a respectable transfer fee.
However, Sunderland evidently don’t see a future for the former France youth international with them, and given they’re enjoying the riches of the Premier League, are seemingly happy to pass up on banking a fee for him.
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