Newly promoted Sunderland AFC had announced the completion of a significant transfer: French international defender Nordi Mukiele has joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain on a four-year contract, solidifying his status as Sunderland’s twelfth signing of the summer transfer window.
Born in Montreuil, France, on 1 November 1997, Mukiele’s professional journey began at Stade Lavallois, making his senior debut in November 2014. In 2017, he moved to Montpellier HSC, where his performances in Ligue 1 attracted attention beyond France.
His next step was to RB Leipzig in 2018, where Mukiele quickly established himself across 146 appearances, contributing 10 goals and 11 assists, and winning the German Cup in 2022.
A move to Paris Saint-Germain followed that summer, where he added two Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France, and two Trophée des Champions to his honors during his time with the Rouge et Bleu. Last season, he spent time on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, making 24 appearances, scoring twice, and impressing in the Champions League, including a strike against Inter Milan.
Internationally, Mukiele has worn the French national team jersey, earning caps at various youth levels and achieving a senior debut in September 2021 against Finland.
Initial reports varied on the transfer fee: some cited an initial £9.5 million with up to £2.5 million in add-ons, while others cited an overall value of €12 million (approximately £10.3 million).
Crucially, his move takes Sunderland’s total summer spending past the £150 million mark—a monumental figure for the club, reflecting its renewed ambition in the Premier League.
Mukiele’s versatility is an immediate asset. Comfortable at both right-back and centre-back, he gives manager Régis Le Bris flexible defensive options, an important consideration given Sunderland’s history of injuries among defenders in recent seasons.
Granit Xhaka, Sunderland’s newly appointed captain and former teammate from Leverkusen, praised Mukiele’s adaptability and mental strength, calling him “very stable defensively and physically” and noting his multifaceted playing ability.
Additionally, Julian Nagelsmann, his former coach at RB Leipzig, spoke fondly of Mukiele’s personality and professional attitude, describing him as “always in a good mood, always laughing” and possessing a “healthy amount of positive craziness” with a relentless drive to improve.
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Sunderland have already added reinforcements such as Reinildo Mandava, Omar Alderete, and Arthur Masuaku, ensuring depth and quality across the backline.
Mukiele himself expressed enthusiasm about his move to the North East. Speaking shortly after the announcement, he said, “It’s a new challenge and I’m happy to be here. I saw the atmosphere of the stadium, and this is something I really like.” He continued, “The fans are very important in football, and especially in Sunderland. I came here to fight for them. I see some good players and see their quality, so I believe that we can do something good together—and when I say together, I mean the players, the fans and the city. We will need everyone this season.”
Mukiele arrives at a pivotal moment for Sunderland. Having secured promotion back to the Premier League via a dramatic play-off final win over Sheffield United, the club has embarked on its boldest transfer window in history, signing over a dozen players across multiple positions to establish depth and quality at the top level.
Their Premier League campaign began on a high note with a resounding 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Stadium of Light, where three debutants scored—Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, and Wilson Isidor—marking a euphoric return to top-flight action.