Sunderland wonderkid Chris Rigg has already told potential transfer suitors exactly what he wants to hear in future negotiations after signing his first professional contract with the Black Cats.
Manchester United have kept a close eye on the youngster’s progress, having scouted him from the age of 14 after he impressed in the Black Cats Floodlit Cup triumph as an Under-15 back in 2022. Since then, his ascent has been remarkable.
Rigg has shattered all kinds of records, both for the club and individually. In the past two-years, the youngster, who was born in Hebburn on the south bank of the River Tyne has become Sunderland’s youngest ever outfield player and youngest ever goal scorer.
He’s been a regular in England’s youth set-up and has captain the Three Lions on a number of occasions. Rigg was handed his debut in the FA Cup by Tony Mowbray in 2023, coming off the bench to help Sunderland complete a dramatic turnaround in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury.
Later in the month, he thought he’d scored the winner for Sunderland in an FA Cup tie at Fulham, only for the official to have raised their flag with Abdoullah Ba, who set up his goal, to be judged to be offside in the build-up.
“That’s where I want to be,” Rigg told Chronicle Live earlier this year as he looked back on his remarkable ascent in recent years and coming up against Premier League opposition. “I want to be at the very top.”
Sunderland saw off competition from a number of European giants this summer, with United, Bayern Munich, and Newcastle United all said to have been keen on signing the youngster on his 17th birthday. Players across England are ineligible to sign professional terms until they’ve celebrated that birthday.
Guarantees over gametime saw Rigg stay at the Stadium of Light this summer, which will play a key part in any future transfer negotiations. At just 17 years old, the youngster has notched up 32 senior appearances, scoring four goals.
“I was just waiting ages to get it all done to be fair,” Rigg added. “I didn’t really want to stress about the contract situation, I just wanted to play for Sunderland. It’s a great place to develop my career.”
When asked about the mentality it takes to break into the first-team set-up at such a young age, Rigg said: “I think just where I’ve grown up, I’ve been told if you’re not humble, you’re not going to be successful. That’s the main thing. I’d like to think that I am humble, but I’ve still got a long way to go.
“Sometimes you look back on stuff but I’m more about living in the present and trying to get this club where we belong, in the Premier League. The squad is so good. They tell me how good I am to be in the team. This season I really want to kick on and show people what I can do.”
