On this day in 2023, Eliezer Mayenda completed his transfer to Sunderland from Sochaux for a fee believed to be just over €1 million. The French third-tier side retained a 25% sell-on clause. Mayenda had turned 18 in May and signed a five-year contract.
He made his senior debut for Sochaux in a cup game, coming on as a substitute at the age of 16 years, seven months and 10 days – the youngest player ever to do so. Five days later, on 2 February, he became the youngest player ever to sign a professional
contract with the club.
Mayenda was loaned by Sunderland to Hibernian in February 2024, where he remained for the rest of the season. Upon his return to Wearside, he was reintegrated into the first-team squad ahead of the start of the 2024 – 25 Championship campaign.
His first Sunderland goals came in the second Championship match of the season, a 4 – 0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, where he netted twice. The big man went on to make 37 appearances during the Championship campaign, as well as featuring in all three play-off matches. Having scored eight goals during the regular season, he then, of course, scored twice in the play-offs, including Sunderland’s opening goal in the final. It’s not a stretch to say that, without his contributions, Sunderland would not have been promoted to the Premier League in May 2025.
As the Premier League season got underway following promotion, Mayenda scored Sunderland’s first goal of the campaign in the 3 – 0 opening-day victory over West Ham. Despite that flying start, opportunities became harder to come by. He made a further 19 league appearances, scoring just one more goal.
Having slipped to third choice at centre-forward due to the form of Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor, Mayenda – still only 21 years old – was sold in the summer of 2026 to Rennes in Ligue 1. The €25 million fee represented an excellent return on Sunderland’s investment, despite 25% of the transfer fee going to Sochaux.
Eliezer Mayenda became a hugely popular figure around the Stadium of Light during his time on Wearside and will be remembered fondly. His “Big Man” chant became a fan favourite and may well remain one for many years to come.
