Trai Hume has spoken of his delight after signing a contract extension at Sunderland keeping him on Wearside until at least 2027. The Northern Ireland international defender joined the Black Cats in January 2022 from Linfield on a deal which ran until 2026 with an option of a further year.
But the club has today announced that the 21-year-old has signed an extension which runs until 2027, with the option of a further 12 months. "I am over the moon to sign a new deal," said Hume.
"After the season we all had as a team, I felt like being offered a new deal is a good sign from the staff that they want to keep me here. I'm still young and I'm certainly looking to play games.
"Hopefully we can have another good season but there is lots of work over the summer."
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Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman added: "Trai was very patient in his first 12 months and worked tirelessly to refine his game. Since the new year he's gone from strength to strength, grown in confidence and his performances merit an improved and extended contract.
"He's a great example of what's possible at Sunderland AFC for young players and we are all really pleased for him and naturally pleased for ourselves that he's committing to the club."
Hume made only a couple of starts in the Championship in the first half of the season, but came into his own in the second half of the campaign as he played in every game in 2023. He played the majority of his games in his favoured right-back position but also spent time playing in central defence when the Black Cats were depleted by injuries.
Head coach Tony Mowbray praised Hume in April, saying that Northern Ireland's first-choice right-back - Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley - must be 'some player' to keep the Sunderland man out of the side. Mowbray said: "Trai Hume is just a wonderful footballer, really.
"I haven't seen the right-back for Northern Ireland, I don't know who he is - I think he is on loan from one of the big Premier League clubs - but he must be some player to keep Trai Hume out of the team!"
Hume becomes the latest young talent to commit his future to Sunderland, with homegrown midfielder Dan Neil having signed an improved contract in March which runs until the summer of 2026, while highly-rated goalkeeper Anthony Patterson signed a new four-year deal last summer which also runs until 2026.
