Salis Abdul Samed excited about loan move to Sunderland from RC Lens

Ghanaian midfielder Salis Abdul Samed has expressed his enthusiasm for joining Sunderland on a season-long loan from RC Lens, a move finalized on deadline day as part of a flurry of new signings.

Abdul Samed, who is keen to make a substantial impact in the Sky Bet Championship, shared his excitement about the transfer.

"I’m very happy to be here," Abdul Samed said. "I spoke with the Head Coach about the project and how the supporters love the Club, so it seemed like a good place for me to progress."

Currently, Sunderland leads the Championship, having won their first four games of the season. Abdul Samed acknowledged the team's strong start but stressed the need for continued effort:

"To win four games in a row is very difficult, but four games is not enough, and we need to continue to work hard and get more wins."

Emphasizing his competitive spirit, he added, "I’m a competitor, and I love the competition for places — we work as a team and move forward together."

Samed's career began at the JMG Academy in Côte d'Ivoire before he moved to France in 2019, signing a two-year contract with Clermont Foot.

He played a pivotal role in Clermont's promotion to Ligue 1 in 2021 and made 31 appearances in the French top tier, contributing to Clermont's historic retention of their top-flight status.

In June 2022, Samed transferred to RC Lens, where he enjoyed a standout debut season.

Under the guidance of Franck Haise, RC Lens finished second in Ligue 1 and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

Samed, nominated for the 2022-23 Prix Marc-Vivien Foé award, received his first international call-up to the Ghana national team in November 2022 ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Salis Abdul Samed is now focused on making a significant contribution to Sunderland's campaign and continuing his impressive career trajectory.