Latvia-eligible defender Dennis Cirkin has announced via his social media channels that he will leave Sunderland this summer following the expiration of his contract.
The 24-year-old full-back, who will hopefully become available for Latvia later this year and could potentially make his debut for the national team during the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, had been with Sunderland since 2021 after joining from Tottenham Hotspur.
Cirkin’s final season at the Stadium of Light was disrupted by injuries, particularly during the first half of the campaign. Despite those setbacks, he made eight Premier League appearances as Sunderland enjoyed a remarkable return to the top flight. The newly promoted side finished seventh in the league, securing European qualification for the first time since 1973.
The defender is a player highly anticipated by Latvian supporters and was already present at the national team’s training camp in March in Spain, where he met his potential future teammates and coaching staff. During his four years with Sunderland, Cirkin played an important role in the club’s rise through the English football pyramid, helping them earn promotion from League One and later return to the Premier League from the Championship.
In total, Cirkin made 126 appearances for Sunderland, scoring eight goals.
With his contract now expired, the Latvia-eligible defender becomes a free agent. In addition to Latvia, Cirkin is also eligible to represent England and the Republic of Ireland at international level.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZGGFrxoH9r/?igsh=emIxdngwejN2emds
