Wilson Isidor Reflects on Sunderland Move That Almost Didn’t Happen
Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor has shared the unexpected twist of events that led him to join the Black Cats, revealing he was originally set to sign for French side Brest, who were preparing for Champions League football.
A Switch from Brest to Sunderland
Speaking to Samos TV, Isidor opened up about his move to Wearside, explaining that Brest was initially the front-runner for his signature. “Originally, I was supposed to go to Brest,” he explained. “But for various reasons, it didn’t happen. That’s when Sunderland called me.”
The French striker, who eventually signed for Sunderland from Zenit St. Petersburg on loan before making the move permanent in January, expressed relief over how things unfolded. “Yes, I’m so happy,” he said when asked if he was pleased about the Black Cats’ interest.
Taking Advice from a Fellow Player
To get a clearer picture of the club, Isidor reached out to someone with inside knowledge — Pierre Ekwah. “My first instinct was to call a friend who knows Pierre. I asked for his number to talk to him,” Isidor said. “Pierre couldn’t respond at the time, so I asked our mutual friend about him. He told me things were going really well for Pierre at Sunderland, that the club was great. That reassured me a lot.”
Once he spoke to head coach Régis Le Bris and the sporting director, everything aligned for the move. “As soon as I knew it was Régis Le Bris, I wanted to come,” Isidor added.
Missed Chance at Lorient and Temptation from Lyon
This wasn’t the first time Isidor had come close to working with Le Bris. Back in January 2023, he was nearly signed by Lorient during an impressive Ligue 1 campaign. However, things didn’t go as planned.
“I had decided to sign there,” he said. “But then I had offers from other clubs, and I started getting messages telling me to sign with Lyon instead.”
A call from then-Lyon coach Laurent Blanc helped sway his thinking. “He said he needed me and that I would play. I thought, ‘Wow, Laurent Blanc is telling me this!’ Then the next day I got a message from Lyon’s president Jean-Michel Aulas. That was a tough moment.”
Isidor admitted it was emotionally difficult, especially having already given his word to Le Bris. “You have to handle these things like a man,” he said. “Imagine if the coach found out through the media that I had signed elsewhere.”
Premier League Ambitions with Sunderland
Having now committed to a three-and-a-half-year deal with Sunderland, Isidor is focused on proving himself in the Premier League. Despite finishing as the club’s top scorer in the Championship with 13 goals, the Frenchman experienced a 13-game goal drought that has raised questions about his consistency at the top level.
Even so, the 24-year-old seems determined to repay the club’s faith. With strong backing from manager Le Bris and the club hierarchy, he is now set to take on the challenge of top-flight football in England — a challenge he seems eager to embrace after a journey full of near-misses and last-minute turns.
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