Alex Charlton says…
What a journey it’s been — from League One to the Premier League.
In your early days on Wearside, you were plagued by injury and I always feared whether you’d get the chance to fulfil your potential, but you’ve played an integral part in the club’s development and progress up the divisions.
Your impact at the start of the 2024/2025 Championship season was outstanding, and I remember watching the opening game of the season against Cardiff City and thinking, “Wow, this guy is a talent.”
For a long stretch,
I thought you were the best left back in the Championship, and your attacking performances in Régis Le Bris’ early days were phenomenal.
I’m so pleased you’ve had the opportunity to play in the Premier League — albeit with limited appearances — but I think you’ve shown that you do have a future at this level, even though it won’t be with us.
I remember seeing you in the stands at Craven Cottage when watching the Lads against Fulham in the FA Cup a few years ago. Clearly you bought into the club, which means a lot to supporters. Good luck on your journey, and I look forward to seeing where your next move takes you.
Andrew Smithson says…
From League One to the Premier League via two Wembley wins, Cirkin has been one of the players that epitomises Sunderland’s revival over recent years the most.
He took a huge step in coming to the club when he did and has had a lot of things to deal with off the pitch, yet as a person and a player, he’s been brilliant since day one.
We’ve watched him develop from a young prospect into a top-level performer and whilst I appreciate that this might be the right time for all parties to go their separate ways, I wouldn’t have been against the idea of him staying on had that happened.
As it is, I think he leaves Wearside with a lot of goodwill and hopefully he finds the right environment to continue his career.
In terms of budget for the level we were at, it was something of a gamble when Sunderland brought him in but a sign of the shift in recruitment policy. Replacing him now will again require some real thought, whereas his next club will be getting a very good option — and one that’ll be a goal threat as much as everything else.
I’ve always felt Cirkin was good defensively but like most modern full backs, he had other strings to his bow.
When fit, he shows good energy up and down the wing, and he isn’t a bad finisher, either. The win at West Brom under Tony Mowbray was a great example of that, and whilst things have to move on, his contribution whilst here will always mean he’s somebody I have fond memories of.
Anth Gair says…
Gutted about this one.
Cirkin isn’t just a name on the released list — he’s a big part of the side that changed our fortunes forever, and that shouldn’t be glossed over. Two promotions. Two trips to Wembley. I was there in 2022 when we finally escaped League One, and Cirkin was at left back doing what he did: quietly class.
The memory I’ll keep is Coventry at home in November 2024, when he picked the ball up, ran fifty yards and leathered an absolute thunderbolt in from outside the box, and the noise for that one still rings in my ears.
The honest bit? His body never let him have the consistent run we all wanted for him. When he was fit, we all loved watching him— but he just wasn’t fit often enough, and 2025/2026 told its own story.
He said he arrived a boy chasing a dream. He leaves a man with two Wembley medals and a city’s gratitude. All the best!
