Sunderland has officially confirmed that forward Max Thompson has left the club by mutual agreement after spending more than a year with the team on Wearside. Thompson, who hails from Macclesfield, was signed by Sunderland from Burnley last year. Prior to joining the Black Cats, he had previously been a part of Manchester United and Everton’s academies and had made one appearance for Burnley’s first team.
During the past year, Thompson managed to score five goals and provide one assist in 13 games for Sunderland’s U21s. However, he was unable to secure a spot in the senior squad. While his contract was originally set to run until the end of the season, the 21-year-old has left the club prematurely.
Sunderland and Thompson have reached an agreement to terminate his contract early, allowing him to seek a new club as a free agent. Robin Nicholls, the Head of the academy, mentioned that there have been ongoing discussions regarding his limited playing time. Now, Thompson is free to explore new opportunities outside of the transfer window.
Although there was hope that Thompson would eventually break into the first team, it hasn’t materialized as expected. Given the importance of game time for a young player’s development, it appears to be in the best interest of both parties for him to begin a new chapter away from Sunderland.
Sunderland has a history of nurturing young talents into the senior squad, but Thompson is now looking to challenge himself at a different club. With his significant academy experience and time spent in renowned academies, Thompson is eager to showcase his skills at the senior level with his next team. The future will reveal where this opportunity will arise.