Gettin' Riggy with it

07/03/2024 01:00 AM

Chris Rigg has committed his long-term future to Sunderland — how does that make you feel, then?

Andy Thompson says...

One of the brightest talents we've had in many years has committed his future to us. This club has come a long way in a short space of time. It wasn't that long ago that our academy was getting rinsed for peanuts. Not anymore. I'm so glad to see that we have gone all out to keep him and convince him that this is the place to help his career. It will be a massive pull to other talents within the academy and those looking in that we are the place to be for young and talented footballers.

Rigg can make an impact next season, for me there is no doubt. His talent is obvious and clear. I was at the Fulham away game in the FA Cup when he made his debut and he looked confident and comfortable on a pitch with Premier League players even at the age of 15 or 16.

The great bit about this deal, is again like all the others at our club, we hold the cards. We will have guaranteed him playing time, and rightfully so, but also when an offer is worthy later down the line, we will let him leave when the offer is right. That deal, if his talent and trajectory stay the course, could mean a huge windfall for our club. It is a massive, massive deal for this club and I am over the moon that he's committed his talents to our club.

I can't wait to see his, and hopefully the team's, progression over the next few seasons. Exciting times indeed.

Malc Dugdale says...

This is a great sign that we are not only developing great talent but protecting ourselves from having such assets stripped away, as we suffered in the past. We did this for a lot of our best assets last season too, and it's great to see it continue.

With all the attention this lad has had from the division above, it would have been very easy for us to lose out, but the club has done a great job tying him down. He may have gone for a really cheap compensation-based price if this contract was not locked in, which is a great bullet dodged.

He will now need to be rewarded with more first-team footy, but he is ready for that anyway. He is the right sort of problem to have, as he brings attacking flair and a great football brain on such young shoulders.

Well done SAFC, another positive tick for us all as we head through pre-season and get ready for another bash at the Championship.

Some good things are happening; let's keep this trend up.