Sunderland agree deal for Atletico’s Reinildo ahead of Premier League return | OneFootball

Sunderland have reached an agreement to sign Reinildo Mandava on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Atletico Madrid.

The 31-year-old left-back will join on a two-year deal, becoming the club’s latest summer addition as preparations continue for their return to Premier League football.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the move on Sunday, describing it as part of an “ambitious project” that aims to balance youth with experience. Reinildo brings top-level pedigree, having made 103 appearances for Atletico since joining from Lille in 2022.

The defender featured in La Liga and the Champions League but struggled for regular minutes last season after falling behind Javi Galan in the pecking order.

Atletico opted not to renew his deal, despite early talks over an extension, and have already lined up Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta as his replacement.

Reinildo’s arrival follows Sunderland’s signing of 20-year-old midfielder Habib Diarra in a £30 million deal earlier this month.

With Reinildo now in place, Sunderland are adding experience to complement their younger recruits as they gear up for life back in the top flight.

The Mozambique international was a key figure at Lille during their title-winning campaign in 2020–21 and was an undisputed starter at Atletico until an ACL injury in early 2023. He has since struggled to recapture that form but will now look to revive his career in England.

Sunderland’s summer rebuild is being led by head coach Regis Le Bris, with incoming director of football Florent Ghisolfi also involved in recruitment. Reinildo is not expected to be the last arrival, with the club also monitoring Armand Lauriente and Marcin Bulka.

The squad will return to pre-season testing on 3 July at the Academy of Light. Sunderland’s friendly schedule includes a match against Rayo Vallecano at the Stadium of Light on 10 August.

After earning promotion, Sunderland have wasted no time in reshaping their squad. The addition of Reinildo adds top-flight know-how to their backline and signals clear intent ahead of their Premier League campaign.