Ghana midfielder Salis Abdul Samed joins Sunderland on long season loan deal from RC Lens

French Ligue 1 club RC Lens has announced that midfielder Salis Abdul Samed has been loaned to AFC Sunderland for the remainder of the season.

The Ghanaian international, who had garnered interest from several French teams, has chosen to join the English Sky Bet Championship side.

Abdul Samed signed with Lens in June 2022 for a reported fee of €5 million, securing a five-year contract. He made his debut in August and scored his first goal later that month.

Despite featuring 39 times last season, including in the Champions League and Europa League, Abdul Samed has fallen out of favour with new manager Will Still this summer.

While FC Nantes, Stade Brestois, and AS Saint-Étienne were all rumoured to be interested, a deal was finalized with Sunderland, now managed by former FC Lorient boss Régis Le Bris, on transfer deadline day. The loan arrangement does not include an option to purchase.

Abdul Samed has completed his medicals in France and will soon head to England to link up with his new teammates.

As per Transfermarkt, Abdul Samed’s current market value is €8 million.

In other news, Salis Abdul Samed has been omitted from the Black Stars squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.