Chemsdine Talbi joins Sunderland from Club Brugge on five-year contract
Talbi arrived on Wearside on Tuesday and has completed a medical to join fellow new additions Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki as Regis Le Bris prepares for life back in the top flight.
He said: 'I'm really excited to be here and grateful for the opportunity to play for this club.
'I made the decision because it's a great project with a talented, exciting team full of young players – and that really motivated me.
Welcome to Sunderland AFC, Chemsdine Talbi! ❤️🇲🇦
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 9, 2025
'The Premier League is the biggest and best league in the world, so I'm looking forward to getting started. I know the fans will get behind me from the start, and I can't wait to see them at the stadium.'
Talbi made 38 appearances for Brugge last season, 11 of them in the Champions League, as the club finished second by a point behind Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – Sadiki's former side – in the Jupiler League.
Two of his seven goals for the campaign came in a 3-1 play-off victory at Atalanta in Europe on the way to a 6-1 aggregate defeat by Aston Villa in the last 16.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman added: 'Our momentum and story are powerful, and I think players of Chemsdine's calibre, who are in high demand, are excited by the prospect of playing for Sunderland AFC.
'It's a testament to our recent past and immediate future that he feels this we are the right club for his next step.'
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