Marcin Bulka, the goalkeeper, turned down Sunderland and has already signed a lucrative four-year contract with SC Neom.
Sunderland have missed out on acquiring Poland international Marcin Bulka, as the 25-year-old goalkeeper has agreed to join Saudi Arabian side SC Neom for roughly £12.7 million.
Bulka had been on the Black Cats’ radar for several weeks, with talks continuing between the player’s camp and Sunderland’s hierarchy as the newly promoted Premier League club sought to strengthen their goalkeeping department. However, the former OGC Nice player has opted for a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia, where he has signed a four-year contract.
The 6ft 6in shot-stopper made 89 appearances for Nice, joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before signing a permanent deal a year later. He established himself as the club’s number one throughout the 2023 calendar year under head coach Francesco Farioli, but was anticipated to leave this summer owing to a contract disagreement. With only one year left on his contract and no progress in renewal talks for over nine months, Nice decided to cash in.
Sunderland had hoped to secure a significant coup, with Kristjaan Speakman and Régis Le Bris eyeing experienced top-flight players capable of improving the squad’s overall standard. Bulka, who has already played in the Champions League with PSG, was viewed as the ideal candidate to push Anthony Patterson in goal. However, the Black Cats ultimately fell short.
SC Neom, promoted to the Saudi top flight this summer, has made a statement in the market, with Bulka joining a growing list of significant recruits, including Alexandre Lacazette, Amadou Koné, and Saïd Benrahma. The Saudi outfit is anticipated to continue investing substantially in the coming weeks as they want to have an early impact on the division.
Sunderland’s search for an excellent goalkeeper continues. While Anthony Patterson is the club’s No. 1 going into preseason, Le Bris and Speakman want to increase competition and cover between the posts. In recent weeks, the club has been connected with both Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic and Wolves’ Sam Johnstone. Bulka’s decision to relocate to Saudi Arabia rather than Wearside demonstrates the Pro League’s financial strength, although Sunderland remains active and ambitious in the market.
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