Daniel Ballard has completed a move to Sunderland for a reported £2 million fee.
✍️ The Northern Ireland international arrives from @Arsenal for an undisclosed fee.
Welcome, @DG_Ballard 👋
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) June 30, 2022
The 22-year-old centre-back moves to the Stadium of Light on a four-year deal having progressed through the ranks at Hale End and London Colney since joining the club at the age of 8.
While Ballard never got the chance to make his Arsenal debut, he has become a regular for Northern Ireland in the last couple of years off the back of very impressive loan spells in League One and the Championship with Blackpool and Millwall respectively.
This time last week it looked as though Ballard was going to join Vincent Kompany’s Burnley only for a move to fall through at the last minute. He was subsequently approached by a number of clubs, including Sheffield United, but has ultimately opted to join Alex Neil’s newly-promoted Black Cats.
Best of luck to Daniel in his new surroundings.
Best of luck to him!
How much we talking here?!?
*licks lips*
£2,000,001
I wonder if the same contract stipulation was in there with regards to matching an incoming bid
Fantastic. We should do more of these deals for players who don’t have a pathway to the first team. Best outcome for all parties concerned.
£2m for a 22 year old 15-cap Northern Ireland international centre back, also proven to be impressive at least at Championship level… I’m struggling to understand. There are clauses, yes, but Guehi went for £18m after less games. When was his contract due to expire?
Yup, another amazing piece of business by our elite exec team…fck me – shakes head -….also why we selling this kid?! Already an international with bags of potential…why isn’t he being set up to take over from the likes of holding?
He’s only 4 years younger than Holding, it’s hardly Fabregas taking over from Vieira.
So?
Fewer
Apparently Liverpool rejected an offer of £11m for Neco Williams (who’s dog poo) and Man City have an offer of £10m for some 19 year-old you’ve never heard of from Bayer Leverkusen (yet we can’t get more than €12m offered for Granit Xhaka). Is it something Arsenal do wrong or are other clubs just dumb to think a player is good because they play (or not) for a really good team (or a combination of both of these)? No matter how good the clubs are at negotiating, I still don’t get how they get so much for so little, so… Read more »
2 million seems nothing for someone with a lot of potential.
True but I doubt he was sold to the first bidder. One would imagine he was offered around and sold to one of the highest bidders.
If nobody was willing to pay say £10m – like we got for Bielek – there’s not much we can do.
At least the back four won’t have to learn Narnirish and 2 millyan poinds is something
Probably the most exciting transfer story so far this summer for Arsenal.
That is how utterly underwhelming our “busy” transfer window has been.
Bit like watching Arsenal play under Arteta.
Underwhelming…
Come on Leon, what signings were you expecting/wanting? Genuinely, I’m curious. I don’t get the moaning, why even check arseblog news ever if you hate watching the Arsenal in the first place? Maybe you desperately seek out downvotes
You have some really high expectations. They are close to finalizing the signing a good young forward, got a good young midfielder, a winger with potential and possibly a very versatile defender. And it’s still only June. What, exactly, are you looking for. If your idea of an exciting signing is someone like Neymar, you are always going to be disappointed.
He’s been a hit in the lower leagues. I expect him to be a prem player in the next couple of years. He’s just a victim of us actually having four decent CB options now. We haven’t had that for a while now.
Best of luck to him. I hope we still included a first refusal on re-signing him.
It is rumoured there is a big sell on clause and a buy back option, so not bad really. He would never make it to the first team with the current competition and this helps the player and club.
Good luck Daniel.
I wish this lad all the best. Sounds like a really good professional. He’s had the best education there is being at Hale End. Never know we may resign him one day – that would be a story