Sunderland Trying Hard To Retain This Teen Academy Gem: Can They Really Afford To Lose Him?

Sunderland Trying Hard To Retain This Teen Academy Gem: Can They Really Afford To Lose Him?

Sunderland are in active contract talks with 18-year-old forward Finn Geragusian, working to fend off serious interest from Rangers and multiple EFL clubs before his scholarship expires this summer, according to The Echo. The County Durham-born Sunderland supporter is under real pressure, and the club have made their intentions clear that they want him to stay.

Sunderland fight to keep teenage academy forward from Rangers

Geragusian has put together back-to-back productive seasons in the Academy of Light. This campaign, he racked up 13 goals and three assists across 29 appearances, following up a 12-goal, seven-assist haul in 2024–25. That totals 35 goal contributions across 60 academy games over two seasons, which is the kind of return that explains why clubs are watching. He also earned his first senior Armenia cap this season, qualifying through his father, which further raised his stock ahead of what looks like a massive summer for the teenager.

A thigh injury ended his season early, ruling him out of the Premier League Cup final defeat against Burnley at the Stadium of Light. Any club looking to sign him would need to agree on a compensation fee with Sunderland or head to a tribunal, given his age and time in the academy.

Can Sunderland actually offer Geragusian a first-team route, or is that promise now harder to keep?

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – APRIL 12: Head coach, Regis Le Bris of Sunderland looks on during the Premier League match between Sunderland and at Stadium of Light on April 12, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)