Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey has committed his long-term future to the Premier League strugglers despite receiving interest from major clubs, including Chelsea.

The Netherlands international has agreed fresh terms until 2031 at the Stadium of Light after originally joining the club last year. Sunderland snapped up Brobbey from Ajax for €20 million after their promotion in 2025, and he bagged seven goals in his first season in England.

He arrived shortly after recovering from an ankle injury and initially struggled to get into the Black Cats' team consistently, but his importance to the side increased as the season progressed.

His numbers were nothing to write home about, but his hold-up play proved crucial as Sunderland comfortably stayed up and qualified for the Europa League on the back of an impressive seventh-placed finish.

Brobbey starred for the Black Cats as they did the double over Chelsea, winning 2-1 at home and away, and scored three times at the World Cup, which prompted the Blues to reportedly enquire about him in the summer. However, there was no deal to be done.

Brobbey extends despite Sunderland struggles

Brobbey, whose Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) currently sits at €61.4 million, again made headlines in September when he netted a hat-trick against Man City, but those are his only goals of the season to date. Just like Sunderland in general, the striker has struggled, and his cause wasn't helped by a hamstring injury he suffered last month.

There were already signs last season that the good form under Regis Le Bris wasn't sustainable, and the harsh reality of Premier League and European football has hit the team like a ton of bricks this term.

Sunderland are bottom of the league, with just one win from nine games, while performances in the Europa League have been far from convincing despite good results. Last month, they needed a 93rd-minute winner to beat Portuguese second-tier side Torreense.

Sky Sports reported on Monday that Le Bris retains the full backing of the club hierarchy despite the downturn in results, which echoed comments made by captain Granit Xhaka after a 3-1 loss to Coventry over the weekend.

The Switzerland international insisted that “the coach is not the problem" and added: "The staff is not the problem. We have a very good feeling within the group, and we know what we want to do. We are prepared very well from the staff side of things.

"But it is up to us. And if you are not doing the things that you are training all week for, then you will have problems. And as I keep on saying, the mistakes are killing us at the moment. If you can’t stop them, then you can’t win."

Despite the club's struggles and a looming relegation battle, Brobbey has committed his long-term future to the Black Cats. "Representing Sunderland in the Premier League is both an honour and a privilege," he said after his extension.

"Having played my part in helping this club qualify for European competition is something I’m incredibly proud of. It’s an achievement that will always be part of the club’s history.

"I know I still can be a better version of myself, and that’s what motivates me every day. I want to score goals, help the team and give our fans something to be proud of."

A transfer to Chelsea or long-term admirers Man Utd is therefore out of the question, at least for the time being. Should Sunderland end up suffering the drop, it could be a different story, of course.