Sunderland are on the verge of guaranteeing the future of another of their talented young players, according to The Echo. Harrison Jones, a homegrown player, is close to signing new terms with his boyhood club, with his tenure in Wearside expected to be extended until 2026. According to sources, the deal will include a club option to extend the attacking midfielder’s contract for another year.
The Black Cats were recently boosted by the news that highly-rated England youth international goalkeeper Matty Young, 18, had elected to prolong his stay at Sunderland, signing a new contract with the club until 2028. The Echo stated in May of this year that Jones and Young were expected to sign new contracts with the club soon, with Young being the first of the two bright players to commit his future to Sunderland after loans at Darlington and Salford. Jones is very certain to follow suit, committing his future to the Wearsiders.
Jones made his first-team debut for Régis Le Bris earlier this season in the Carabao Cup against Preston North End at Deepdale. The highly rated 19-year-old has also appeared on the Frenchman’s bench nine times in the Championship this season (2024-25). Jones also appeared on the bench twice during the 2023-24 season, but has yet to earn his first league appearance despite impressive performances for Sunderland’s under-21s. Jones was also a key member of Graeme Murty’s junior team last season, helping them reach the Premier League 2 play-off final.
Indeed, Jones is now captaining Sunderland under-21s after the departure of former skipper Ellis Taylor last summer and has managed five goal contributions in eight Premier League 2 games. The Echo believes that Jones will continue to practice with Le Bris’ first squad during the festive period before perhaps heading out on loan during the January transfer window after signing his new agreement.
Sunderland are eager for Jones to obtain senior experience, since his possibilities in the first squad are currently limited under Le Bris. The Black Cats have Dan Neil, Chris Rigg, and Jobe Bellingham in the center, with Salis Abdul Samed and Alan Browne returning from injuries later this season. Milan Aleksic, who joined in the summer, is now a midfield option.
Jones is eager to achieve more and hopes to imitate some of the Black Cats’ success stories. Neil, as previously stated, is the club’s captain and has appeared 170 times in all competitions, followed by homegrown goalkeeper Anthony Patterson who has 154 appearances. “It’s definitely a dream come true to play for Sunderland,” Jones told The Echo in September. “If I’m being honest, it’s probably the only life goal I’ve ever had, and now that I’ve accomplished it, I never believed I’d do it.
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