Sunderland’s newest recruit Unpacking Alan Browne while Kristjaan Speakman i……..

Sunderland’s newest recruit Unpacking Alan Browne while Kristjaan Speakman identifies ‘vital function’

Alan Browne, the former captain of Preston North End, has officially joined the Black Cats.

“He will bring fresh qualities to our midfield,” stated sporting director Kristjaan Speakman following the announcement of versatile midfielder Alan Browne as Sunderland’s second summer acquisition.

The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international appears to be exactly the kind of seasoned player the Black Cats need after they were without a captain the previous campaign. After being awarded the Whites’ 2023–24 Player of the Year, Browne signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light and left rival Championship team Preston North End last month.

Having spent ten years at Deepdale, where he made over 400 appearances and scored 46 goals, he brings a wealth of Championship experience to Wearside.

“Alan is a dynamic and versatile midfielder, who will complement the players within our squad and bring fresh qualities to our midfield,” stated Sunderland’s sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.

We have been keeping a careful eye on his availability over the past eight months, and his goal has been a major topic of conversation. He feels he can achieve those goals at Sunderland, and now that he’s seen our potential, he wants to be a major contributor to our further success. We are happy to have him join the club.

In 2015, Browne was a member of the Preston team that won promotion to the second division. He has remained a consistent player ever since, and his leadership abilities have earned him the title of PNE captain before the 2020–21 campaign.

The 29-year-old, who was born in Cork, has played in 35 international matches since making his debut in 2017. In 2021, he scored his first goal in a competitive match for his country against Serbia.