Chris Rigg has signed a new five-year Sunderland deal — but why did he reject interest from Premier League giants and top European clubs to stay at the Stadium of Light? 🔴⚪
In this video, we break down why Rigg chose Sunderland, including:
The huge role fans played in his decision ❤️
How Régis Le Bris and Kristjaan Speakman convinced him to stay
Sunderland’s £150m rebuild and Rigg’s place in the project
Why this deal sends a powerful message about the club’s future
Sunderland’s youth-first strategy is paying off, and Chris Rigg believes he’s part of something special on Wearside.
00:00Hello, welcome back to the channel. My name's James Copley and today we're going to be talking about Chris Rigg.
00:06As you are all aware, Chris Rigg has signed a new five-year deal at Sunderland, keeping him at the Stadium of Light until 2030.
00:15Now, the Echo understands that Chris Rigg once again rejected serious interest from several top Premier League clubs and European sides this summer.
00:24There were some exploratory talks which took place between Chris Rigg's camp and other clubs, but no formal bids were submitted and Chris Rigg rejected the interest from clubs both domestically and abroad.
00:38Now, why does he want to stay at Sunderland? One of the key reasons was the relationship he has now got with Sunderland supporters.
00:48Sources told me that he genuinely loves the club and feels loved back.
00:52Rigg now sees Sunderland as home and he's been part of the Academy of Light since he was in primary school.
00:59So, he's been here a long time and that's definitely fostered a relationship.
01:03Rigg also played a key role in last season's promotion campaign, as we are all well aware.
01:09He featured 45 times, starring in the famous Wembley win as well, and he views Sunderland's journey to the Premier League from the Championship as unfinished business.
01:19Obviously, he was around the club when the club was in League One as well.
01:22He believes in the project under Regis Labrice and he's not done at the Stadium of Light.
01:28And just to circle back to the fan point, Rigg's bond with Sunderland supporters has grown through several milestones.
01:35His FA Cup debut against Shrewsbury Town at 15 years old.
01:39He then played a couple of times against Fulham in the same competition.
01:44There was obviously that big reaction to his disallowed goal.
01:47Sunderland fans were hugely supportive of Chris Rigg breaking through at such a young age and that has left a lasting impression.
01:55He also became Sunderland's youngest ever goalscorer against Crewe Alexander in the Carabao Cup.
02:00He is still that competition's youngest ever goalscorer and he became, during all of this, Sunderland's youngest outfield player ever and Sunderland's second youngest player ever.
02:13Because there was a goalkeeper who was slightly younger, whose name escapes me.
02:17He obviously scored the back-heeled winner against Middlesbrough last season in the Championship at the Stadium of Light.
02:21That sparked a huge supporter reaction because it was in a local rivalry game, should we say.
02:26I'm not going to call it a derby because I don't think it is one.
02:29And there was also the two games against Coventry.
02:31Cast your minds back to the scenes before that home leg against Coventry at the Stadium of Light.
02:36With the bus coming in, the flares, the Dan Ballard last second winner.
02:41All of that has helped create a huge bond.
02:44Chris Rigg celebrated in front of the Roker end that night and a big bond has developed.
02:50There was the Wembley celebrations as well against Sheffield United in the Championship.
02:54And the Trafalgar Square scenes as well, where his Newcastle support and family actually joined in and were welcomed with open arms by Sunderland fans.
03:02All of this has made a lasting impression on Chris Rigg.
03:06And of course, Sunderland's hierarchy as well.
03:08Christian Speakman, Regis Labris and Kirill Louis-Dreyfus.
03:11Now Florent Gasolfi too.
03:13All played major roles in keeping Chris Rigg at the club.
03:16Louis-Dreyfus sanctioned another lucrative financial package to keep him.
03:20Obviously, a five-year deal is a big financial commitment.
03:23Chris Rigg will be now being paid more than he was previously.
03:26Obviously, as always with these contract decisions, the money has to be right, the financial incentive has to be right, and Chris Rigg has been rewarded for his development.
03:37You know, this follows Louis-Dreyfus' decision in 2024 to break the bank on Rigg's first professional contract, which was the biggest ever offered by the club.
03:48Now, interestingly, Rigg probably now faces an uphill battle to get into Sunderland's team.
03:53He's going to compete for places in midfield with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Noah Siddiqui, Habib Di Yara, Enzo Lafaye, Dan Neal.
04:03There's also possibly a space for Chris Rigg on the right wing, where he will compete against Patrick Roberts, Chemstein, Talby.
04:11But far from being deterred by this, sources have told me that Chris Rigg is relishing the challenge of competing with these multi-million pound Premier League sign-ins.
04:19And he's looking forward to testing his mettle in the best league in the world.
04:24Now, that is seen as an elite mentality by people at Sunderland and exactly the type of attitude that Regis Libris wants within his group.
04:32So, Chris Rigg's helping to drive standards as well.
04:35There has been talk among Sunderland fans of a move back to the Championship on loan.
04:40That has been dismissed by sources.
04:43Sunderland see his development as best served on Weir's side.
04:46Could that change in the future if he wasn't getting enough games? Potentially.
04:49But I think Chris Rigg is going to be integrated into Premier League football.
04:53And I think he's going to get minutes this year.
04:55This five-year deal signifies the club's youth-first policy is not changing.
05:03And it remains the same despite £150 million summer transfer spend.
05:07You know, Rigg's renewal follows Eliza Mayenda's long-term extension.
05:10These are very young players.
05:11And while Sunderland have recruited some more experienced players like Granit Xhaka, like Green Ildo,
05:18they still have a focus on youth.
05:21And they have signed players like Noah Siddiqui, James Dine-Talby, Simon Odinga, still relatively young.
05:26Robin Rufus as well.
05:27So, there's a clear message from Sunderland here to Chris Rigg that they believe in their young talent still.
05:34The model, so to speak, has to be adjusted slightly.
05:38The squad composition has had to be adjusted slightly to deal with the stresses and strains of the Premier League.
05:45But Sunderland's main focus is still around developing youth.
05:50And I think Chris Rigg's decision to stay at Sunderland sends a powerful message.
05:54It's a massive vote of confidence in where the club is going.
05:57And it's a massive vote of confidence of Sunderland in Chris Rigg's talent as well.
06:04And I think it really says that Sunderland's top young talent believe that they are part of something special.
06:09I'm absolutely over the moon that Chris Rigg's staying at Sunderland.
06:12I think he can contribute to the team this season.
06:14Let me know your thoughts on everything I've just said.
Be the first to comment