Former Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown made the club’s position clear to Football Insider this week. He stated that the Black Cats have no intention of selling Brian Brobbey this summer. The 24-year-old Dutch striker joined Sunderland from Ajax on 1 September 2025. The deal cost €20 million and could rise to €25 million. He has quickly become a standout forward in the Premier League.
Sunderland Say That Brian Brobbey Is Not For Sale
Brown called Brobbey “a really important player” for Sunderland. He added that a “huge fee” would be the only way to start talks. Even then, he doubted the club would sell at all. Brobbey’s last-minute winner at St James’ Park against Newcastle United grabbed headlines in the Netherlands. Pundit Marciano Vink noted the striker’s physical growth since moving to England. Brown praised Sunderland’s summer recruitment as fantastic. He argued that a strong first season back in the top flight proves why they must keep their best players.
Brobbey played 22 Premier League matches this season. He scored five goals and provided one assist. His rate of 0.37 goals per 90 minutes makes him the club’s top scorer in the league and proves his physical power. Brobbey contested 195 duels and won 51 headers during the campaign, and these stats show why Regis Le Bris trusts him so much. Brobbey also has a contract until June 2029. This gives Sunderland a strong position to reject any bids.
“Brobbey has become a really important player for Sunderland,” Brown told Football Insider.
“It’s clear the manager likes what he brings to the team, so I can’t imagine they’ll be looking to sell him already, no matter who comes in.
“Sunderland did a fantastic job with their recruitment in the summer and it’s been a really strong season for them, and Brobbey has been very impressive.
“He looks a handful to play against. He’s strong, will back into defenders, battle them, fight them, run in behind, and he’ll score goals as well.
“That makes him such a valuable player to have, and Sunderland have had a strong season so they don’t want to lose players already, they want to build on it.
“It would take a huge fee to get him out, and even then, I’m not sure they’d be looking to sell.”
Can Sunderland Actually Afford To Keep Brian Brobbey Long-Term?
The situation is getting interesting. Sunderland built their squad last summer with a smart plan. Brobbey arrived as the star forward for a rising project. He won back-to-back Eredivisie Player of the Month awards at Ajax. He also won the Player of the Year award. This was a calculated move for a proven talent, not a lucky guess.
His strengths help him thrive in the Premier League. He pins defenders back and wins aerial battles consistently. Brobbey presses hard from the front and scores from inside the box. At Ajax, he often struggled to finish a full match. However, his stamina has improved since he arrived in England. This shows Brobbey took the move seriously and fixed his biggest flaw. He still drifts offside occasionally, and his passing can also be inconsistent in tight spaces. Still, these small issues do not overshadow Brobbey’s massive impact on the pitch.
The situation goes beyond the player himself. Sunderland finished their first season back as a competitive side. They did not just survive; they challenged the league. Brobbey also plays for the Netherlands. He has eight senior caps and scored his first international goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2024. Brobbey’s value will climb as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets closer. This will surely draw interest from the biggest clubs.
Sunderland’s firm stance is the right move. They signed him for a fair price and secured him with a long deal. Brobbey has already delivered in high-pressure derbies. Selling him now would signal a lack of ambition. It would also force Le Bris to replace a striker who already fits the system. Sunderland should ignore any offer under £50 million. Brobbey is 24, signed until 2029, and playing for a top national team. He is an asset that is much harder to replace than to keep.
