Ronald Koeman has given his take on Brian Brobbey after the Sunderland striker turned his season around in the Premier League. Speaking on ESPN NL’s Goedemorgen Eredivisie, the Netherlands manager spoke about a few topics around his national squad, with Voetbal Primeur relaying his specific comments on Brobbey’s situation at the club level.
Ronald Koeman Gives Verdict On Brian Brobbey As Sunderland Striker Finds Premier League Form
Koeman was straight about where things stood in attack, confirming that Memphis Depay, currently at Corinthians, remains his primary choice to lead the Dutch frontline. Despite Brobbey’s improved club form, he still has a mountain to climb to dislodge Depay at the international level, especially in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“Yes, there’s no reason to change that. He’s fit, and he’s playing. He’s the all-time top scorer for a reason, and he’s important. If that remains the case, he’ll essentially be my striker,” said Koeman on Brobbey’s chances.
The 24-year-old arrived at the Stadium of Light on deadline day last summer from Ajax for a fee of €20m, with the total potentially rising to €25m. Sunderland’s decision to commit that sum raised more than a few eyebrows, given his inconsistency during his final Ajax season. Nevertheless, Brobbey has gone some way to justifying the fee, finishing as Sunderland’s top scorer with five goals across 22 Premier League appearances.
Does Brobbey’s Bench Role Reveal Something Uncomfortable About Sunderland’s Ambitions?
Of those 22 appearances, only 13 have come from the start; a stat that raises a fair question Sunderland should be asking themselves. Regis Le Bris clearly values Brobbey’s physical menace off the bench, where his directness and aerial strength give tired defenders a rough time late on. Sunderland currently sit 11th on 40 points after 29 games, already 12 clear of the relegation zone, which makes their first Premier League season back a genuine success story.
Yet a striker purchased for €20m, who scored one of the season’s most memorable equalisers against Arsenal in November, probably deserves more starts than he has been getting if Sunderland are serious about pushing higher. Koeman, noticing the improvement, even with Depay ahead of him, at least tells you Brobbey is doing something right, but Le Bris is the one who actually needs to act on it.
There is also a timing issue that doesn’t get mentioned enough. Brobbey turns 25 in August, and these are the seasons that define whether a striker becomes a top-level fixture or becomes another nearly man. 13 starts from 29 league games at a club that want to move up the table won’t do much for his Netherlands chances, regardless of what Koeman says publicly.
