Sunderland Agree £8M Deal to Sell Anthony Patterson to Wrexham
Sunderland have reportedly reached an agreement with Wrexham over the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, with the Championship club set to pay an initial fee of £8 million for the highly rated shot-stopper.
Patterson has been given permission to travel to North Wales to undergo his medical and complete the final formalities of the transfer. If everything proceeds as expected, the 26-year-old will officially become a Wrexham player ahead of the new Championship campaign.
The agreement brings an end to months of uncertainty surrounding Patterson’s future at Sunderland, with several clubs showing interest in the goalkeeper during the summer transfer window.
Wrexham Win Patterson Race
Wrexham emerged as one of the leading contenders for Patterson’s signature after making their interest clear.
Championship rivals Millwall, where Patterson spent the second half of last season on loan, were also interested in securing his services permanently. Scottish giants Rangers were among the other clubs believed to have monitored the situation.
However, Sunderland remained firm on their valuation and were unwilling to sanction a transfer unless their financial demands were met.
Wrexham have now agreed to pay an initial £8 million, giving Sunderland the green light to allow Patterson to leave.
The Welsh club will be hoping to complete the deal quickly as they prepare for the start of another important Championship season.
Patterson’s Sunderland Career
Patterson is a product of the Sunderland academy and worked his way through the club’s youth system before making his senior debut.
His first-team breakthrough came during the 2021-22 campaign, when he established himself as Sunderland’s first-choice goalkeeper.
He subsequently became an important figure in the club’s promotion push and played a crucial role in Sunderland’s memorable promotion-winning campaign.
One of his biggest moments came during the play-off final victory over Sheffield United at Wembley.
Patterson produced two important saves during the match, denying Kieffer Moore with an early header before making another impressive stop from Andre Brooks in the second half.
Those performances helped cement his reputation as one of Sunderland’s most promising goalkeepers.
Competition for Goalkeeper Position
Patterson’s position at Sunderland became increasingly difficult following the arrival of Robin Roefs.
The new goalkeeper moved ahead of Patterson in the competition for the starting position, while the subsequent signing of Melker Ellborg further reduced his chances of returning to the first-team picture.
After spending the second half of last season on loan at Millwall, Patterson now appears ready to begin a new chapter with Wrexham.
For Wrexham, the signing represents a significant investment in the goalkeeper position and could give the club a reliable option as it continues its rise through the English football pyramid.
More Sunderland Departures Expected
Patterson is not expected to be the only player leaving Sunderland during the current transfer window.
Defender Arthur Masuaku has also been given permission to travel to Turkey to complete his proposed transfer to Konyaspor. The experienced defender is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Turkish club.
Meanwhile, Leo Hjelde is also close to leaving Sunderland, with Belgian side Mechelen reportedly in advanced negotiations over a permanent transfer.
Hjelde joined Sunderland in January 2024 and made 32 senior appearances for the club. However, he spent the second half of last season on loan at Sheffield United after failing to feature regularly for Sunderland.
Mechelen are reportedly prepared to offer the Norwegian defender a four-year contract.
With Patterson, Masuaku and Hjelde all nearing departures, Sunderland are entering a significant period of squad restructuring as the club prepares for the new season.
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