adminDan Neil Speaks Out as Pre-Season Begins Amid Premier League Interest
Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil has broken his silence following the club’s return to training, with signs increasingly pointing to the 24-year-old staying at the Stadium of Light for the 2025/26 season—despite interest from the Premier League.
Neil, who has just 12 months remaining on his current contract, remains in talks over a potential new deal. However, his presence during pre-season media duties and training at the Academy of Light suggests a commitment to the club’s Premier League journey under new head coach Régis Le Bris.
While Everton continue to monitor his situation closely, Neil’s composed interview and appearance in Sunderland colours over the weekend is being seen as a major boost for fans hopeful he’ll remain on Wearside.
Reflecting on his off-season and return to action, Neil said:
> “Yeah, good summer. I’m sure all the lads celebrated the result last year. But over the last week or two, we’ve all switched back on and made sure we returned in good shape. We’ve done all the tests today, but yeah—it was a good summer. A nice reset ahead of what will be a massive year.”
A key figure in last season’s promotion campaign, Neil has quietly become a leader in what is still a youthful squad. While not officially named captain, his influence continues to grow. Asked about the possibility of captaining the team in the Premier League, he remained humble:
> “I haven’t really thought about that. We’re just focused on preparing as best as we can for what’s going to be a tough season. One thing I know about this group—and I said it last year—is that we’ve got great character, great team spirit, and we’ll work as hard as we can in pre-season to address weaknesses and be ready.”
Neil also expressed his excitement at reuniting with his teammates after the summer break, especially returning loanees and those recovering from injury.
> “Over the past week, I was looking forward to coming back. You enjoy your holidays, but when the return date gets close, you just want to see the lads again. You go from seeing each other every day to not seeing anyone for five or six weeks. It’s been great catching up with everyone—guys who were on loan, lads recovering. And nothing brings a team back together like the bleep test!”
The Sunderland-born midfielder also weighed in on the club’s newly unveiled away kit, which is inspired by Marco Gabbiadini’s iconic 1990s design.
> “The away kit is lovely,” he grinned. “I saw the rumours that it would be similar to that Gabbiadini kit—my dad’s shown me it plenty of times. But when we walked into the dressing room, it looked even better than the photos. We’re excited to play in it next season.”
Despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his contract, Neil’s early involvement in pre-season sends a strong message. As Sunderland continue their summer rebuild, securing Neil’s long-term future would be a huge step forward in their Premier League preparations.
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