Newcastle United have made significant progress in recent years when it comes to securing top-class youth talent, but one near-miss that could haunt them is their failure to sign Sunderland’s rising star, Chris Rigg. The 17-year-old midfielder, closely monitored by Newcastle over the last few years, has deep family connections to the black-and-white side of the northeast. However, instead of making the switch to St. James’ Park, Rigg has become a fan favorite at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. His winning goal in the recent Wear-Tees derby only solidified his status as an exciting option for the senior team.
Newcastle initially attempted to sign Rigg during the summer of 2023, with confidence running high among the club’s leadership that a deal could be struck. However, Sunderland managed to convince the young talent to remain, offering a clear path to first-team opportunities in both the Championship and cup competitions—opportunities that never fully materialized due to managerial upheaval and poor team performances. Despite another effort by Newcastle this summer, they were unsuccessful again, as Rigg chose to sign his first professional contract with Sunderland. Now playing a pivotal role in Sunderland’s Championship campaign, starting five of the last six league matches, it seems Newcastle’s window to secure Rigg may have closed, especially with Manchester United also expressing interest in the promising midfielder.
There is still debate about whether Rigg would be ready for a spot in Eddie Howe’s first team, as he shares a similar developmental trajectory with Newcastle’s other young talents, such as Trevan Sanusi, Leo Shahar, and Alfie Harrison. These players are viewed as prospects for the future rather than immediate contributors. However, Sunderland’s new manager, Regis Le Bris, has given Rigg the first-team opportunities he’s been seeking, a move that has helped the young star flourish. Reflecting on Rigg’s performance after the derby win, Le Bris remarked, “I’m not entirely surprised by him, but when you give young players opportunities, you can uncover many hidden talents. Some succeed quickly, while others take more time. But Chris has the character and personality to thrive in any situation, and he’s a great teammate—a symbol for our team.”