Chris Rigg reacts as emotional Sunderland exit now confirmed
Chris Rigg has been the centre of transfer speculation for what feels like months at Sunderland.
The young midfielder played a massive role at the Stadium of Light as the Black Cats returned to the Premier League after an eight-year hiatus.
Now, Regis Le Bris and Sunderland have the opportunity to buck the trend of newly-promoted clubs being immediately relegated, but will have to do without another star.
Rigg reacts as Sunderland exit confirmed
With Wembley hero Tommy Watson moving to Brighton and Chris Mepham returning to Bournemouth after his loan, there have already been notable exits from the North East this summer.
Jobe Bellingham is the latest to exit the Stadium of Light after completing a move to Borussia Dortmund.
The transfer saga for the midfielder was a drawn-out one, with multiple clubs interested in Bellingham before he eventually opted to join Dortmund, with a club-record fee secured.
The talented teenager shared his emotional farewell to Sunderland fans on his personal Instagram account (10 June), with Rigg immediately replying.
| Chris Rigg | Championship stats (2024/25) |
| Matches played | 42 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 1 |
Underneath the heartfelt post, Rigg commented, “Good luck, big man”, followed by a heart emoji.
Sunderland can now focus on making signings
Replacing Bellingham in the heart of the Sunderland midfield becomes an immediate priority for Le Bris ahead of the new season.
Whilst Jordan Henderson has been linked with a return to his boyhood club, Sunderland also have another midfield target.
Motherwell and Scotland wonder Lennon Miller could be set for a move south of the border after having a spectacular season at Fir Park.
Miller scored four goals and laid on eight assists last season, and is regarded as a dead-ball specialist.
This is a skill that could be very useful for Sunderland next season.
You would imagine that Le Bris’ side will be sat deep, with limited possession, due to the quality of opposition they will be facing.
With Bellingham moving on for big money, that has to be spent wisely to plug that enormous gap.