Nordi Mukiele can now do something no Sunderland player has done since 2014
Nordi Mukiele has enjoyed a fantastic start to life at the Stadium of Light since completing his move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Sunderland signed Mukiele in a deal worth around £12million in the summer, with the defender signing a four-year contract.
The 27-year-old had spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, and jumped at the chance to move to the Premier League.
Mukiele scored his first goal as Sunderland beat Wolves 2-0, with the defender going from strength to strength in recent weeks.
After the Black Cats beat Chelsea last week, Mukiele was spotted in awe of the Sunderland fans, later explaining that he was delighted for the fans who had endured so many years of hurt.
Nordi Mukiele nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month
Mukiele has been phenomenal at right-back for Sunderland over the past few games, and the defender has been rewarded for his efforts.
The 27-year-old has been nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for October.
And should he win it, the Frenchman will be the first Sunderland player to win the award since Connor Wickham in 2014.
The striker, just 21 at the time, scored five goals in just four games for the Black Cats in April 2014.
Wickham netted braces against Manchester City and Cardiff City, and scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in what was Sunderland’s last win there before last week’s famous victory.
Mukiele is up against Matty Cash, Bruno Guimaraes, Erling Haaland, Eli Junior Kroupi, Bryan Mbeumo, Igor Thiago, and Jurrien Timber for the award.
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What Regis Le Bris said about Mukiele
Speaking following Sunderland’s win over Wolves, Regis Le Bris said: “He has really good energy. He is a good player with a specific profile.
“He always shows this energy to go forward. Sometimes we have to manage that energy.”
Energy is right, but it is the quality that comes with that energy that makes Mukiele so exciting.
| Nordi Mukiele | Premier League 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 7 |
| Duels won | 51 |
| Tackles | 21 |
| Interceptions | 7 |
| Recoveries | 26 |
| Chances created | 4 |
The defender has won a massive 51 duels across his seven Premier League appearances so far this season, emerging successful in the duel 71.8 per cent of the time.
His nomination for the player of the month award is warranted, and it is only a sign of better things to come.
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