News broke last week that Liam Ogunsuyi, the 14-year-old younger brother of Trey, had been “deregistered” from Sunderland’s Academy, meaning he is now able to register with another club. Although Sunderland will be due compensation, it will be a pittance compared to his value should he make it to the Premier League in the future.
Liam was Sunderland’s Academy Player of the Year in 2024/25. In March he became the club’s youngest-ever U18s player when he made his debut against Newcastle just before
his 14th birthday; the previous youngest U18 debutant was a certain Chris Rigg. At the time of his U18 debut, Ogunsuyi had rattled in an impressive 32 goals for the U16s, and his highlight reel on YouTube shows why he was highly rated by Sunderland and seemingly coveted by other clubs.
Which academy Ogunsuyi goes to remains to be seen. It would be a surprise if it wasn’t one of the so-called elite clubs that invest millions in up-and-coming talent from across the world. Liverpool had been strongly linked with Trey before he signed his first professional contract with Sunderland, so they will no doubt be very aware of the younger Ogunsuyi too.
If – when – he signs for another club, he will be the latest Sunderland Academy star-in-the-making to seek fame and fortune elsewhere in recent years. Some were sold during the asset-stripping era of Donald and Methven (don’t forget Satori was here too). Some, no doubt, moved because they were promised contracts and salaries that were impossible to turn down. For some, it may have been the promise of a clear route to the first team.
Of the 12 high-profile youngsters to leave the Academy of Light before they were able to sign a professional contract on their 17th birthday, only two have made appearances in the Premier League. A quick look at how their careers progressed away from Wearside shows that the grass is not necessarily greener elsewhere…
Sam Greenwood left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2018 to join Arsenal. He didn’t settle in the capital and moved north to Leeds in 2020, where he made 37 appearances and scored 1 goal, including 25 games in the Premier League. Subsequent loans in the Championship at Middlesbrough (38 appearances and 5 goals) and Preston North End (45 appearances and 7 goals) established him as a first-team regular. Last summer saw a surprising £1.8m move to Polish top-flight outfit Pogoń Szczecin, where he scored 3 goals in 22 appearances. Capped at various youth levels for England, and now aged 24, Greenwood has recently been linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers.
Luca Stephenson also left Sunderland’s Academy in 2018 aged 15 to join Liverpool. Unfairly dubbed the new Jordan Henderson, he has not played a minute for the Reds. He has, however, had successful loans at Barrow in League Two in 2023/24 (34 appearances) and Dundee United, making 77 appearances over the last two seasons. Now aged 22, Stephenson was recently linked with a move to Bolton Wanderers.
Luke Hewitson left Sunderland’s Academy aged 14 in 2019 and was another to join Liverpool. The former England U16 international did not make any first-team appearances before joining Fleetwood in 2024/25, where he made a single appearance. Now aged 21, he recently moved to Chester FC in the National League North.
Josh Coburn left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2019 to join Middlesbrough. He broke into the Boro first team, making 56 appearances and scoring 12 goals. He also had a spell in League One on loan at Bristol Rovers in 2022/23, making 40 appearances and scoring 10 times. He moved to Millwall, initially on loan before finalising a permanent deal for £5m, where he has made 52 appearances and scored 15 times. Now aged 23.
Joe Hugill left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2020 to join Manchester United. No appearances for the Red Devils, but loans at National League Altrincham in 2022/23 (10 appearances and 1 goal), League One Burton in 2023/24 (18 appearances and 1 goal), League One Wigan in 2024/25 (18 appearances and 5 goals), League Two Carlisle in 2024/25 (17 appearances and 2 goals), and League Two Barnet in 2025/26 (6 appearances and 0 goals). He joined Kilmarnock in January 2026 and made a decent impression with 8 goals in 15 appearances. Now aged 22.
Logan Pye left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2020 to join Manchester United at the same time as Joe Hugill. He also did not make any appearances for United. The England U18 international joined Burnley in 2023, where he has failed to break into their first team but did make 8 appearances on loan at League One Accrington Stanley in the first half of 2025/26. The 22-year-old played for Burnley U21s in the Premier League Cup final at the Stadium of Light in May.
Morten Spencer left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2020 to join Leeds United. The England U15 and Norway U16 international did not make any appearances for Leeds. He joined Derby County in 2024 but had to retire from professional football in 2025 because of a cardiac problem. The 22-year-old is now, apparently, playing non-league.
James McConnell left Sunderland’s Academy aged 15 in 2020 and was yet another to join Liverpool. One of the few to break through at his new club, he has made 13 appearances for Liverpool, although the last of those was in February 2025 in the shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth. He was on loan at Ajax in the first half of 2025/26, where he made 7 appearances before the Dutch giants terminated the agreement. The England U20 international is now aged 21 and will be looking for first-team football next season.
Francis Okoronkwo left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2021 to join Everton. It seemed like Donald and Methven might have actually tried to keep him, as he was pictured with the rest of the non-playing squad at the Papa John’s Trophy final in 2021. Still, he left and has so far not made any appearances for the Toffees. He has, however, had loans at Salford City in League Two in 2024/25 (24 appearances & 4 goals), Lincoln City in League One in the first half of 2025/26 (20 appearances and 2 goals), and Doncaster Rovers in League One in the second half of 2025/26 (5 appearances & 1 goal). Now aged 21.
Mason Cotcher left Sunderland’s Academy aged 16 in 2023 after turning down the offer of a professional deal. The former England U17 international played with Rigg while coming through the ranks at Sunderland. He was highly rated and had trials at Arsenal, Manchester United, and Leeds before finally signing for Aston Villa. Now aged 19, Cotcher has made no appearances for Villa and has, so far, not had any loans elsewhere.
Josh Robertson left Sunderland’s Academy aged 18 in 2024 to join Brighton. Yet to make an appearance for the Seagulls or be sent out on loan. Now aged 20.
Toby Bell left Sunderland’s Academy aged 15, also in 2024, to join Chelsea. The England U16 goalkeeper is now age 17 and is yet to make any first team appearances.
