Sunderland have signed a star who looks like their next Le Fee

Sunderland were left feeling frustrated on Saturday night after they were beaten 2-0 by Premier League champions Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats got themselves into a terrific position to take charge of the match when they were awarded a penalty with the score at 0-0 in the second half.

Unfortunately, Enzo Le Fee’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Spain international David Raya, as he got down to his left quickly to turn the shot away from the bottom corner.

The Gunners then went on to win the game 2-0, thanks to goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Bukayo Saka, but Le Fee should not take too much of the blame for the result.

Why Enzo Le Fee does not deserve any criticism

Whilst the penalty could have been better from the French attacking midfielder, the Sunderland star struck his effort well and it would have nestled in the bottom corner if Raya had not guessed the right way or been so quick down to it.

It was more of a terrific save than a bad penalty from Le Fee, who did score a penalty against Brentford in the previous Premier League match, which is why the midfielder should not face much, if any, criticism for the loss to Arsenal.

On top of that, the 26-year-old star has been the club’s most productive and reliable performer at the top end of the pitch since the start of last season, and should be given more leeway because of that.

Whilst Brian Brobbey, who was the team’s top goalscorer with seven Premier League goals last term, can often take the headlines with his impressive physical attributes, it was Le Fee who led the way for goal contributions in the 2025/26 campaign.

The French star has shown that he can offer goals and creativity on a regular basis from an attacking midfield position, and he looks set to be a key player for the club again this season, despite his miss against Arsenal.

Sunderland have already found their next Le Fee

Sunderland need more players to step up with more goals and assists to improve the attack, and Brobbey’s lack of goals so far this season does not suggest that he is on his way to doing that.

The Black Cats, though, have already signed an attacker who is even more exciting than the Netherlands international and does have the potential to be the club’s next Le Fee.

After plenty of speculation throughout deadline day, Sunderland eventually secured a deal to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana for £31m at the end of the summer transfer window, despite late interest from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

The Belgium international is still settling into life in England and at the Stadium of Light and has only made two substitute appearances in the league so far, which means that the best is yet to come from the forward.

Fofana endured an injury-hit 2025/26 campaign with Lyon, which restricted him to 16 appearances in all competitions, but his form in the past for the French side suggests that he could be a Le Fee-esque figure for Sunderland.

Whilst Brobbey’s return of 13 goals in 76 games for Ajax and Sunderland combined since the start of the 2024/25 campaign does not suggest that he is likely to deliver consistently in the final third, Fofana’s performances for Lyon do.

The Belgian attacker racked up 11 goals and seven ‘big chances’ created in 21 starts in Ligue 1 and the Europa League that season for the French club.

Fofana, like Le Fee, is an attacking midfielder who can offer goals and assists on a regular basis when playing regularly, but he has not played enough regular football, due to injury, in the past 18 months or so.

Sunderland have to provide the 21-year-old winger with the opportunities that he needs to make an impact in the final third in the Premier League by giving him minutes week-in-week-out as a starter.

Le Fee became a star for the Black Cats by playing regularly in the Premier League last season, and Fofana could follow in his footsteps by scoring and creating goals at an impressive rate from the wing.

Fofana is even more exciting than Brobbey because of his impressive form for Lyon in the past, and it is now down to Regis Le Bris to get the best out of the £31m-rated star.

The young forward has already shown that he can produce quality at the top level, as shown by his output in France, and it is up to him to carry that over to English football.