Sunderland near deal to appoint ex-Roma sporting director Ghisolfi | OneFootball

Newly-promoted Premier League side AFC Sunderland are close to appointing the recently-departed Roma sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, just one day after he left his position at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ghisolfi’s departure from his position as Roma sporting director was officially confirmed on Wednesday. He leaves the Giallorossi after just one season in charge.

Now, according to reports from transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, the Frenchman is ‘close’ to joining Sunderland in time for the start of the summer transfer window, which will be the Black Cats’ first in the top flight since the 2016-17 season.

Claudio Ranieri oversees his first training session back in charge of Roma alongside director Florent Ghisolfi. (picture via www.asroma.it)

Roma have since confirmed that their former executive Ricky Massara, who has also worked as sporting director of Milan, has returned to replace Ghisolfi in the Italian capital.

Who is the Sunderland-linked former Roma sporting director Ghisolfi?

Ghisolfi is a 40-year-old football executive from France, who has previously worked for a number of different clubs, largely in his home nation and another one in Italy.

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 03: Florent Ghisolfi of AS Roma during the Serie A match between Verona and AS Roma at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 03, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Ghisolfi had a short-lived career as a player, as a midfielder with Bastia and Reims, retiring in 2014.

He has also held assistant manager roles with Reims and with Lorient, coincidentally at the same time as current Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris’s spell with the club’s B team.

Ghisolfi has also held sporting directorship roles with Lens, Nice, and most recently with Roma.

Among the players that Ghisolfi signed during his first transfer window with Roma were Matias Soule from Juventus, Artem Dovbyk from Girona, Manu Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach and Samuel Dahl from Djurgardens.

epa12073520 Roma’s Artem Dovbyk (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina, in Rome, Italy, 04 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI

For Sunderland fans, the most notable signing was that of Enzo Le Fee, who joined the Giallorossi on a permanent transfer in the summer, only to leave on loan in the January transfer window. He has since completed a permanent move to Sunderland after the confirmation of the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

What Roma said about Ghisolfi

Roma confirmed Ghisolfi’s departure from his position as sporting director on Wednesday with a statement that read: “AS Roma and Technical Director Florent Ghisolfi have mutually agreed to part ways.

“Over the past year, Florent has demonstrated professionalism and dedication during a crucial phase for the Club.

“We express our gratitude for his contributions and wish him the best of luck as he embarks on a new professional challenge.

“Thank you, Flo!”