Sunderland are closing in on a second consecutive summer signing from NEC Nijmegen, with France Under-21 international Noé Lebreton understood to be on the verge of joining Régis Le Bris' squad ahead of the club's debut season in the UEFA Europa League.

Another NEC connection

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder made a striking impression in the Eredivisie last season, recording seven goals and six assists in 27 appearances after joining NEC Nijmegen from SM Caen — a Ligue 2 club — in the summer of 2024.

Lebreton played a notable role in what proved to be a remarkable campaign for NEC. The Dutch side finished third in the Eredivisie on 59 points, claimed a victory over Feyenoord at De Kuip, and reached the KNVB Cup final after beating PSV Eindhoven in the semi-final — a game in which Lebreton contributed the decisive assist. NEC also secured a historic first appearance in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round for 2026/27.

The move mirrors Sunderland's acquisition of Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs from the same club last summer. Roefs, now 23, impressed throughout his debut season in English football, and the Black Cats appear ready to tap into the NEC pipeline once more.

A squad built for Europe

Sunderland's French-speaking environment at the Stadium of Light — already home to ten French-speaking first-team players — is understood to have been a significant factor in attracting Lebreton, as well as a key argument in the club's pitch to the player himself.

Head coach Régis Le Bris faces the challenge of balancing Premier League commitments with the club's first UEFA Europa League campaign in 2026/27, following Sunderland's seventh-place finish in 2025/26. Strengthening the squad with versatile, in-form European talent is clearly central to the club's strategy.

Last summer, Sunderland drew widespread praise for the ambition of their recruitment, bringing in Brian Brobbey from Ajax and Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, among others. Lebreton's potential arrival suggests the club intends to maintain that same level of boldness in the transfer market.

Sunderland open their Premier League season away at newly-promoted Ipswich Town on August 22.