Lynden Gooch proved at Sunderland why Huddersfield Town have completed League One signing of the summer
This season, Huddersfield Town is the clear favourite to win League One, and Lynden Gooch, a product of the Sunderland academy,
will play a significant role.
Prior to the 2025–2026 League One season, Huddersfield Town has become one of the front-runners for the title.
Lee Grant was hired as Huddersfield’s new manager, and he has quickly made an impression in his first few months in command by
managing some outstanding transfer activity.
Ryan Ledson was the first player acquired by new Terriers manager Grant during the summer transfer window. Marcus Harness, Joe
Low, and Sean Roughan were the next players added.
But Huddersfield’s most recent addition, Lynden Gooch, a Sunderland academy graduate, might end up being the summer’s top third-
tier acquisition. EFL Analysis explores why here.
Three reasons why Lynden Gooch can push Huddersfield Town to League One title
Following a two-season stay with the Potters during which he was unable to regain his peak performance from his Black Cats days, the
California native has joined the Terriers as the newest addition to Huddersfield’s summer roster.
Gooch will contribute three major advantages to Grant’s team and Huddersfield’s promotion campaign, according to EFL Analysis.
Versatility in several key positions
Since his senior breakthrough at Sunderland in the Black Cats 2016/17 Premier League campaign, Gooch has proven himself as a
capable operator in a handful of positions.
During his early football, Gooch was deployed as a right-winger, whilst also performing well cutting in from the left, and in the pocket
behind the striker as a ’10’.
| Position played | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Right-winger | 120 | 13 | 21 |
| Left-winger | 63 | 8 | 7 |
| Attacking midfield | 41 | 9 | 7 |
| Right-back | 26 | 0 | 2 |
| Left-back | 22 | 0 | 0 |
As his career progressed at Sunderland and Gooch aged, his versatility and adaptability saw him feature on either side of full-back,
employing his attacking prowess and physical attributes exceptionally well.
With an arduous 46-game season ahead for Grant and Huddersfield, Gooch’s versatility will be imperative to cover potential injuries
and suspensions.
Experience in important games for Sunderland
In addition to his tremendous versatility, Gooch’s Premier League experience will be a huge asset to Huddersfield.
Gooch has made 247 appearances for Sunderland in his career, 11 of which were in the Premier League, 105 in the Championship, and
155 in League One.
The American adopted Mackem also won the 2021 Papa John’s Trophy for the Black Cats, emphatically dispatching a pass from Aiden
McGeady to give Sunderland some much-needed hardware.
Gooch was also part of the 2021/22 Sunderland squad that won the League One play-off final under now-Millwall boss Alex Neil, and
his winning experience will be a monumental benefit as Huddersfield look to return to the second tier after relegation in 2024.
Impressive mentality throughout career
Every head coach that took over at the Stadium of Light gave Gooch plaudits during his time with Sunderland.
Gooch had his best season in goal for the Black Cats under current Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson, scoring 10 goals and dishing out
two assists in 30 games during the 2019–20 League One campaign.
Parkinson told the Shilds Gazette of Gooch following a spectacular goal against MK Dons: “It is a moment of real quality from
Lynden.”
“He needs to keep improving every week because he is a very good player, and that goal was a really great moment.”
Following Parkinson’s departure, Gooch once again proved himself in a different position under a plethora of different Sunderland
managers, showing great determination to maintain his role in the side for multiple seasons before he emotionally departed the club
he came to as a boy from California.
Sunderland fans will agree with Lee Grant’s opinion of Lynden Gooch
“His experience will be invaluable both on and off the pitch for the group, and he’s another player who knows how it feels to not only
be promoted from this league, but also the hard work and dedication it requires to get there,” Grant said on Huddersfield’s website
following Gooch’s arrival.
“A resilient individual, our supporters will love seeing him play for them as well.”
Sunderland supporters will completely concur with Grant’s assessment of the American, as the Terriers will greatly benefit from his
experience.
However, every team needs Gooch’s dedication and selfless mentality, which he exemplifies each and every time he takes the pitch.
According to EFL analysis, Huddersfield will win League One this season, and Gooch’s skills on and off the pitch will undoubtedly help
the Terriers achieve their promotion goal.
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