IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Aaron Connolly has joined Championship side Sunderland on a one-year deal, it has been confirmed.
The 24-year-old had been without a club after being released Hull City at the end of last season.
Connolly scored eight goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for the Tigers in the 2023-24 campaign, though only 13 of those games were starts in the Championship.
The Galway native said he felt “privileged” to sign for the Black Cats and added: “I’m ready to move forward with my career after facing some challenges in recent times and I fully understand the huge opportunity I have ahead of me.”
It almost five years since Connolly’s memorable Premier League debut, scoring a brace in Brighton’s 3-0 win over Tottenham.
However, since then, the striker has invariably struggled with form and injuries and so far, failed to live up his early promise.
Sunderland’s Director of Football Kristjaan Speakman added: “Aaron needs an opportunity to re-establish himself and to reset the perception of him as a professional athlete. It wasn’t long ago that he was scoring goals in the Premier League and playing for his national team, but he has suffered some setbacks.
“We all handle challenges differently and when it comes to responding, sometimes we don’t get it right immediately. At Sunderland, he’ll have the environment and support to perform and an opportunity to showcase his ability.”
Connolly has nine Ireland caps to his name, with his most recent appearance coming in the 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat by France just over a year ago.
I really don’t understand why Cork and super value park don’t step in here and offer to take the games in its place. Problem solved
@Michael Corkery: 100%
@Michael Corkery: not really, it doesn’t have the requisite capacity, only 29k covered seats….
@Sea Point: 20k covered seats, rest is standing and uncovered….
Being honest they should try redevelop Windsor Park. It’s a football tournament all games should be to the benefit of football not GAA. Gaa have the money and Casement Park will get done but won’t be completed on time. As for the money from Apple open up sport centres around the country like the 1 up in Blanch. There should be regional centres around Munster Leinster , Connaught and Ulster we all seen how great the Olympics was more facilities all over Ireland greater chance we get double figures in medals.
@Leighton Cullen: Windsor got money and was redeveloped, but making it any bigger would be a white elephant. Casement was earmarked £70m back in 2013, but hasnt got that yet as it will now need more.
@Leighton Cullen: Windsor Park and RavenHill were redeveloped for the soccer and rugby fraternity. The NI Executive stalled on developing Casement then collapsed over BREXIT, handily enough for the Unionists not being seen to fund Gaelic games. The costs since have spiralled.
Never trust a word from the UK Government.
The rationale for NI to continue to remain as part of the UK continues to crumble. There has been scant investment in Northern Ireland since 2010 and now another hammer blow to the local economy. This is the same Govt that will spend 80bn on defense this year and frankly doesnt care about infrastructure outside of London.
They will of course happily continue to turn NI, Scotland and Norther England into welfare dependent areas and not look to give its own people a chance
@Owen ODonoghue: I wouldnt begrudge the 80b on defense. Was an intresting report on Irish defence being wholly underfunded esp when it is to protect important transatlantic cabling. Relying of fishermen to deter the Russian navy, the RAF to intercept planes and not even having rader capable of tracking jets when then turn their civilian transponders off, something Russian jets do quite often to test air defences. Current Irish airforce planes would struggle against a spitfire.Irish defence spending should increase to at least 2% of GDP.
@Kingshu: i 100% agree with you, its more the allocation of budget, they could take 0.5% of defense and cover this or 0.1% of social welfare and cover it. Think of the jobs etc etc
And 1000% on Ireland and defense, we need radar, a functional navy and fighter jets
@Owen ODonoghue: UK as a NATO country is obliged to spend 2% of GDP on defence, it spends 2.3% increasing to 2.5% but even then the UK defence forces aren’t in great shape, I dont think they are overspending on defence. But 100% they can afford Casement, and have been embrassed that the Irish Government has contributed. £400m is an exaggeration to make them look better for not assisting, think their plan was to wait untill it was too late for Euros so they could pull out. Bit money could be found all NI somehow found £350m for the new Grand Central station that wasnt even needed. Would love Irish goverment to step in with the Money from Apple tax and build it for less than £400m and in time for Euros.
We can build it with some loose change from the 13 billion.
We are funding the roads may aswell build a stadium
@Bryan Mc Mahon: in essentially another country?
@Michael Corkery:
@Michael Corkery: for now
@Bryan Mc Mahon: lots of dilapidated stadiums in the state to fix first.
@Michael Corkery: I don’t see Belfast as being in another country
@Michael Corkery: Shame on you.
@Kingshu: don’t get me wrong , I’m for reunification but as things stand, Dublin should not be making up for shortfalls in British exchequer funding. As others have said, there are huge infrastructure needs that are not being met south of the border – sporting and otherwise. We may be rich in comparison to our nearest neighbor but compare us to continental Europe and we’re still miles behind where they are
What about Fitzgerald Stadium in Kerry- Great scenery