“No, definitely not”- Sunderland youngster Chris Rigg sends bullish message to Chelsea ahead of Premier League clash

Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg has sent a bold message ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea, declaring that the Black Cats will go to Stamford Bridge “without fear” as they look to extend their impressive Premier League run.

The 18-year-old has been instrumental in Sunderland’s strong start to life back in the top flight under Régis Le Bris, stepping up after Habib Diarra’s injury. The team has collected 14 points from their first eight matches and remain unbeaten at the Stadium of Light.

Rigg once again impressed in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Wolves, though he admitted the team still has room to improve.

“We got three points, so no matter how you play, if you get them three points, who cares?” Rigg told The Echo. “Of course, there’s always room to get better — no one has a perfect game — but we just have to keep pushing on.”

Next up for Sunderland is a trip to face Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, arguably their toughest challenge so far. But Rigg insisted the occasion holds no fear for him or his teammates.

“No, definitely not,” he said when asked if nerves would play a part. “We’re not going there with fear. You saw it when we played Forest — we went there with confidence and came away with three points. It’s about taking that same intensity into this game too.”

Chris Rigg’s remarkable rise at Sunderland

Rigg’s journey has been extraordinary. Just three years ago, he was juggling schoolwork with football, occasionally training with the first team while captaining Sunderland’s youth squads.

He made his senior debut at 15 in an FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town in January 2023, becoming the second-youngest player in Sunderland’s history. Not long after, he broke more records — scoring in the EFL Cup against Crewe Alexandra to become both Sunderland’s youngest ever goalscorer and the youngest scorer in the competition’s history.

Rigg’s momentum carried into the following season, as he scored on his league debut in a 5-0 win over Southampton and later produced a memorable back-heeled goal against Middlesbrough, which earned him the EFL Championship Goal of the Month award in September 2024.

By the end of the 2024–25 season, he was crowned EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season, playing a key role in Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League.

Now tied to the club until 2030 on a long-term deal, Rigg has firmly established himself as a central figure in Le Bris’ ambitious side — one that’s proving they belong among England’s elite.