EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland have signed 'a fearless wide player who won't be overawed by anyone'
New Sunderland signing Rhys Walsh is a ‘fearless wide player’ who won’t be overawed by anyone, Sunderland Nation have been told.
The 17-year-old was a surprise deadline day arrival from Northern Irish side Glentoran and he will now be fast tracked into the Black Cats’ under-21s set-up.
Walsh was a player in demand with Sunderland having to battle other Championship clubs for his signature, but what can fans expect to see from him on the pitch?
“He's a wide player, fearlessly plays on the front foot likes to stand players up and beat them,” Walsh’s agent Lee Mudd exclusively told Sunderland Nation.
“He has an art of being able to go either side using both feet - has been involved at senior level and thrived.”
Mudd also represents Sunderland fullback Trai Hume, who has been a huge success on Wearside since joining from Linfield in January 2022.
Hume is already on the radar of some top clubs, and one of the reasons he has impressed so much at Sunderland is because of his no-nonsense strong mentality.
That is a mentality that Mudd also sees in Walsh, and it bodes very well for his chances of following the trail Hume has blazed on Wearside.
Glentoran FC
His arrival is also further evidence of how attractive Sunderland have become to young players due to their commitment to developing talent.
“[Walsh] is a humble kid but he’s also fearless when he plays. He certainly won't be overawed by anyone.
“He had options, but he wanted Sunderland because of the ethos of playing young players.”
In joining Sunderland, Walsh joins a club with a proud history of Northern Irish players. Players such as Johnny Crossan and Jonny Evans played for Sunderland, as well as Jimmy Nicholl, George McCartney and Phil Gray.
Belfast and Sunderland have a long historical connection away from the game too due to shipbuilding.
That legacy crossed over into football when another man who made the move from Glentoran to Sunderland, Northern Ireland legend Billy Bingham, only joined the Black Cats as it allowed him to continue the shipbuilding apprenticeship he started in Belfast in the shipyards of the Wear.
Bingham, also a winger, signed for Sunderland from Glentoran when he was just a teenager and he went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club. When he eventually lost his place, another winger was signed from Glentoran, Amby Fogarty, to replace him.
“I have mixed feelings about losing Rhys as obviously he’s a player who I know would have gone on to do great things for Glentoran as he was already becoming a big favourite here,” Glentoran manager Warren Feeney said.
“But on the other hand it’s a brilliant opportunity for Rhys as he’s joining a big club with a great record for developing young players and giving them their opportunity.
"Rhys is a very exciting player who can lift a game with his skill and directness, but he is also a strong and hard-working lad. I’m certain he’ll seize the opportunity and do very well there."
Walsh then, is following in some impressive footsteps, and with Trai Hume, Dan Ballard and Corry Evans, Jonny’s younger brother, already in the Sunderland squad, the Northern Irish influence is certainly growing.
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