Sunderland AFC is pleased to announce that Jack Whittaker and Jaydon Jones have signed their first professional contracts with the club.

After rising through the ranks at the Academy of Light, the bright duo has decided to base their fortunes on Wearside.

Academy Manager Robin Nicholls said: “Jaydon and Jack have both made significant progress in their development and demonstrated their ability to impact games on a continuous basis. They each contribute unique qualities, but they all share a strong work ethic and technical ability.

We’re delighted to help them take their next steps in the professional world.” Jaydon Jones has made rapid progress since joining the club as a six-year-old from Newton Aycliffe. The central midfielder joined the Under-18 squad at the age of 15 and went on to play 20 games for the U21s in the 2024-25 season, scoring three goals. His remarkable performance earned him the Club’s U18 Player of the Year honours.