Sunderland Sign Jules Ahoka From Royal Antwerp for €10 Million

Sunderland have signed midfielder Jules Ahoka from Royal Antwerp for €10 million, equivalent to £8.6 million, according to BBC Sport. The 20-year-old has agreed a long-term contract with the Premier League club, although the precise length of the deal was not disclosed in the report.

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Ahoka is a DR Congo youth international and had appeared in both of Royal Antwerp’s league matches this season before completing the transfer. The move takes him from Belgium to England at the start of a campaign in which Sunderland are adding to their squad following their return to the Premier League.

In comments published by Sunderland and reported by the BBC, Ahoka expressed pride at joining the club and pointed to its ambitions as part of the attraction. He said he intends to work hard, learn from the players and staff around him, and continue his development. The midfielder also pledged to give everything for Sunderland as he prepares to begin work with his new team.

Sunderland director of football Florent Ghisolfi said the club had tracked Ahoka closely and had seen encouraging qualities in a player of his age. Ghisolfi described the midfielder as having significant potential and said Sunderland believes it can provide the right setting for the next stage of his development. The club’s public comments framed the transfer as an investment in a young player rather than an immediate guarantee about his role.

Ahoka is Sunderland’s third signing of the summer. The Black Cats had already brought in Belgian left-back Thomas Meunier and French right-back Dayann Methalie, meaning all three confirmed additions reported by the BBC have arrived from outside English football. Ahoka is the first midfielder among that trio.

The signing follows Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat by Ipswich Town in their opening Premier League fixture on Saturday. Sunderland’s next scheduled match is against Fulham on Sunday, with kick-off listed for 14:00 BST. The BBC report did not state whether Ahoka would be available or selected for that game, leaving the timing of his first appearance unconfirmed.