Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce that Dan Neil has signed a new long-term contract at the Stadium of Light.
The 19-year-old has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal, following in the footsteps of fellow academy graduate Elliot Embleton by committing his future to SAFC until summer 2025.
Neil has enjoyed an outstanding start to the 2021-22 season, featuring 17 times in all competitions for his boyhood club.
Born in South Shields, he scored his first professional goal in the Lads’ 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley in September, with an unstoppable strike screaming into the top corner in front of the Roker End.
The midfielder, who has also registered five assists since the start of the campaign, scored an equally spectacular second earlier this month when captaining Lee Johnson’s side against Lincoln City.
Neil made his senior debut in a 2018 Papa John’s Trophy tie against Morecambe and he featured six times during the competition last season, as the club secured its first win at Wembley Stadium since 1973.
After a breakthrough 12 months on Wearside, Neil believes this is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the club’s esteemed history.
He said: “Everyone knows that I love this football club and I love playing for it. It’s a dream come true to be playing in the first team and I’m loving every minute of it, but I want more and I want to be playing in the higher divisions for Sunderland. I want to be part of getting this club back to where it belongs and there’s nowhere I would rather be, so I’m delighted to have extended my contract.”
Lee Johnson added: I’m really pleased for Dan and for the football club. We are excited and encouraged by his progression over the past year and we are enjoying having an overview of his hard work, but there is so much more to come from him and that is incredibly exciting because he is already a very good player. We are delighted to have made this type of commitment to a player who loves playing for Sunderland, is hungry for success and continuously proves his desire to improve through strong application.”