Football League World
·12 November 2021
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Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·12 November 2021
Jeremain Lens joined Sunderland in the summer of 2015 as a player who had the potential to make a real difference in the North East.
A Holland international, Lens was duly reunited with his former manager from his days at PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar, Dick Advocaat, at the Stadium of Light and was quickly tasked with helping the Black Cats to become more established in the Premier League.
However things didn’t really go to plan for the 33-year-old, as he went on to play just 24 games for the North East outfit, notching up a measly four goals and three assists as he struggle to settle in England.
He was also clearly affected by the departure of Advocaat and would go on to state that he wanted to leave the club after complaining that he didn’t want to sit on the bench.
Therefore he was duly loaned to Turkish side Fenerbahce in the summer of 2016 as he looked to put his time with Sunderland behind him.
Whilst with The Yellow Canaries, the attacker enjoyed a far more fruitful spell, racking up an impressive five goals and 17 assists in what was a fruitful campaign for the Dutchman.
He then returned to Sunderland over the summer of 2017 before being loaned to Turkey again, this time with Beşiktaş.
The Black Eagles agreed a deal which included an option to buy the winger, and this was an option that they go on to take up after Lens registered four goals and five assists in his first campaign.
He went on to rack up over 100 appearances for the club, before he then moved on loan to Karagümrük for a short period, which resulted in three goals and one assist in 16 games.
So far this seasons Lens is yet to have made an appearance for Beşiktaş since his return from his loan spell and could well look to move on again when his contract expires in the summer of next year.
His time at Sunderland was short and he isn’t exactly someone who provides much in the way of good memories to the Stadium of Light faithful.