Sunderland defender Trai Hume is hoping the Black Cats can go one better than this season and secure a return to the Premier League after signing a new deal at the Stadium of Light. The 21-year-old defender has signed a new four-year contract to take his stay on Wearside through to the summer of 2027.
The versatile defender arrived from Linfield for an undisclosed fee back in January 2022 and was made to bide his time to break into the starting XI. Hume took his chance around Christmas and featured in every Sunderland game from Boxing Day through to the end of the season.
Hume told SAFC.com: "Obviously I'm over the moon and happy to sign a new deal. After the season we all had as a team, I felt being offered a new deal from the staff was a good sign that they wanted to keep me here and I want to play. I'm delighted.
"The start of the season - last year - I wasn't really playing much, I was on the bench and in and out of the team. I wasn't playing as much as I wanted to but come Christmas time, there was a few injuries and I got my chance.
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"I took my chance last year and took it with both hands. I played basically every game from Christmas onwards and this new contract shows what the staff and the club thinks of me.
"It's a good thing and I'm here to stay at the minute. They've tied me down for another year now and that takes me through to 2027 I think, so I'm going to be here for a long time. I'm still young, fit and looking to play games.
"Hopefully play next year and play with new teammates, the teammates from last year and hopefully it's going to be a good season like last year."
Hume chipped in with some vital goals from defence, including the winner against Luton Town in the play-off semi-final first-leg at the Stadium of Light. The Hatters would go on to win the second leg comfortably, but the Black Cats enjoyed a season that surpassed expectations.
"The season we had last year was a good season for everyone," Hume added. Obviously we didn't get what we wanted in the end getting beat in the play-offs but it was a good season personally for me.
"It was a good season for all the players, all the season and the club. We're going into next season excited and trying to do that again but try and get promoted. We join up on the 26th for pre-season and hopefully all the lads are fit, ready and go into the season and try and get promoted."
Hume was called up to Norther-Ireland's international squad twice last season and made his debut against Greece in a UEFA Nations League clash. The young defender is hoping to add more caps to his resume next season.
"It's kicked on since I came to Sunderland, I got my first call-up then," he said. "Playing this year, I've been called up twice now and my career is just kicking on.
"That's what I wanted from the start when I was a young boy. I wanted to play in games like that and international games. I'm doing that now and it's good."
