Black Stars’ Salis Samed Returns to Pitch After 244 Days

Black Stars midfielder Salis Abdul Samed made his long-awaited debut for Sunderland in their 2-1 defeat to Stoke City on January 11, 2025.

The former RC Lens loanee entered the match in the 80th minute, replacing Harrison Jones with the score tied at 1-1. It marked Samed’s first competitive appearance after 244 days of inactivity. The match went into extra time, where an error by the Ghanaian midfielder led to Stoke City’s winning goal.

Samed received a 5.5 rating for his performance as Sunderland suffered a home defeat, resulting in their elimination from the FA Cup in the third round. The midfielder had not played a competitive match since June 2024, when he represented Ghana in their 4-3 victory over the Central African Republic.

Samed secured a loan move to Sunderland during the summer transfer window after RC Lens put him up for transfer.

Following his debut, he will look to earn more playing time and regain his form, with hopes of helping Sunderland in their bid for promotion to the Premier League.