Sunderland forward Duncan Watmore has signed a new deal with the Black Cats that will keep him at The Stadium of Light up until 2020, as announced on the club’s official website.
The England Under-21 international has broken into the first team set-up at the North East club this season, making five Premier League appearances.
The talented youngster was signed in 2013 from Altrincham and was named as the Barclays U21 Premier League Player of the Season for the 2014-15 after impressing at that level.
He hasn’t been overawed at the step-up to the first team level, and has been one of a few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for Sunderland.
Watmore broke into the England Under 21s squad at the beginning of the season and he’s made three appearances for Gareth Southgate’s side already.
Speaking about the new deal for his young player, Sam Allardyce said:
Duncan is an exciting prospect and the kind of talent you want to see coming through at your club. He is a bright young man, he has a sensible head on his shoulders and if he continues to make the kind of progress we have seen this season, I am sure that he has a great future ahead of him.
Sporting Director Lee Congerton also commented on Watmore’s new deal:
Every club is searching for young, talented English players, so for us to be able to agree a long-term contract with Duncan is fantastic for Sunderland. Through his own hard work and diligence, and by seizing the opportunities given to him, he has progressed from the youth team through to the first team, which is exactly what we want to see from our young players.
Finally, the player himself had this to say:
I’m delighted to sign my new deal and commit my future to Sunderland. I’ve had a great few years here developing my game and now I hope to push on further, with the help of the staff, my team-mates and the supporters, who have all been fantastic with me.
