Alex Pritchard’s departure from Sunderland in January marked the exit of one of the club’s experienced figures.
While his tenure might not have concluded under the most ideal circumstances, Sunderland supporters should reflect on his time with appreciation for his contributions.
Earlier in the summer, the club witnessed the departures of Bailey Wright, Carl Winchester, Lynden Gooch, and Danny Batth, as they pursued new opportunities elsewhere.
Consequently, this left Corry Evans, Alex Pritchard, and Bradley Dack as the most senior members of the squad.
However, Evans struggled with injuries during his time at the Stadium of Light, and Dack, despite his arrival the previous summer, failed to leave a significant mark.
Ultimately, it was Pritchard who bid farewell to Sunderland, opting to join Championship side Birmingham City under the guidance of Tony Mowbray, his former manager.
The end of Alex Pritchard’s time at Sunderland
The uncertainty surrounding the future of the attacking midfielder had lingered at the Stadium of Light for quite some time. Even during his tenure as Sunderland’s manager, Tony Mowbray had openly acknowledged last summer that he anticipated Alex Pritchard’s departure from the club during that particular transfer window.
However, despite speculations, a move away from the Black Cats failed to materialize, and Pritchard proceeded to make a notable impact during the current season.
He featured regularly in the team lineup during the initial phase of the campaign, proving to be a valuable asset under Mowbray’s management.
| Alex Pritchard’s Sunderland stats (all competitions) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2021/22 | 47 | 4 | 13 |
| 2022/23 | 43 | 4 | 7 |
| 2023/24 | 25 | 1 | 5 |
Given his significant contributions, it appeared that Pritchard was poised to extend his stay at Sunderland beyond the January transfer window. Reports from The Telegraph suggested that Birmingham City, along with MLS side Colorado Rapids and Turkish Super Lig outfit Sivasspor, expressed interest in securing his services on long-term deals. However, a surprising turn of events unfolded when Pritchard submitted a transfer request and subsequently made himself unavailable for future matches.
This unexpected development presented a challenge for Sunderland’s manager, Mick Beale, who had to adjust to Pritchard’s sudden departure at the eleventh hour.
Initially, there were indications that Birmingham City might opt to wait until the summer to acquire Pritchard on a free transfer once his contract with Sunderland expired.
However, the situation took a different turn as Birmingham decided to pursue the midfielder more aggressively and ultimately finalized a deal to secure his services.