'I wanted to be part of it' - Danny Batth reflects on 'great' spell at Sunderland so far

Danny Batth is happy extend his Sunderland stay after reflecting on a ‘great’ year on Wearside.

Batth joined from Stoke City in January 2022, initially signing an 18-month contract with Sunderland.

That would have been due to expire this summer, although there was an automatic extension put in the deal attached to certain performance metrics, which he has easily hit.

The 12-month extension has, therefore, been triggered meaning he is now contracted to Sunderland until the summer of 2024, and he couldn’t he happier about it.

“I think I've hit pretty much every target in my contract so I have to keep going with it,” Batth told the Sunderland Echo. “I always believe contracts look after themselves if you're playing well and enjoying it.

“What a great 12 months it's been so far. I never had any hesitation in coming here. I knew what the club was trying to do and where it was trying to go, and I wanted to be part of it.

“It's gone okay so far, let's keep moving forward.”

Batth immediately became a key player for Sunderland in League One, and he was instrumental in hauling the Black Cats out of the division just months after he arrived.

He played 12 times last season for Sunderland, including all three play-off games and he has added another 30 appearances so far this season.

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