Sunderland AFC have set their sights on Borussia Dortmund’s 27-year-old Norwegian defender Julian Ryerson, with Sky Germany reporting on August 5, 2025, that the Black Cats have inquired about the versatile wide player’s availability. Fresh off their promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoff final, Sunderland are looking to bolster their squad with experienced talent, and Ryerson, who can operate as a full-back or winger on either flank, fits the bill. The move comes as part of a busy transfer window that has already seen the club spend over £140 million, including a £17 million deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka.[](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/wolves-sunderland-enquire-borussia-dortmund-191500040.html)
Ryerson, who extended his Dortmund contract until 2028 in June, has made 101 appearances for the Bundesliga club since joining from Union Berlin for €5 million in 2022, scoring seven goals and providing six assists. His standout 2024-25 season saw him create eight big chances in 29 Bundesliga games, averaging four duels won per match, showcasing his defensive grit and attacking flair. Sky Germany notes that Ryerson’s “dream” of playing in the Premier League could sway him, though Dortmund, under new coach Niko Kovac, are under no pressure to sell the €20 million-rated player, especially after losing Jobe Bellingham to Sunderland earlier this summer.[](https://www.footballfancast.com/even-better-than-trai-hume-sunderland-express-interest-julian-ryerson/)[](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/wolves-sunderland-enquire-borussia-dortmund-191500040.html)
Sunderland’s interest in Ryerson, who has 23 Champions League appearances, reflects head coach Regis Le Bris’s ambition to add versatility and experience to a squad facing the Premier League’s demands. The Black Cats, who also signed wingers like Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi, see Ryerson as a potential upgrade over regular right-back Trai Hume, given his ability to play as a center-back or winger. However, Wolves have also inquired about Ryerson, intensifying competition for the Scandinavian star, whose signing could break Sunderland’s transfer record again.[](https://www.caughtoffside.com/2025/08/05/sunderland-hoping-to-sign-julian-ryerson/)[](https://www.footballfancast.com/even-better-than-trai-hume-sunderland-express-interest-julian-ryerson/)
With the Premier League opener against West Ham United on August 16, 2025, looming, Sunderland’s pursuit of Ryerson signals their intent to avoid a relegation scrap. Le Bris, who signed a new three-year deal, is backed by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’s aggressive recruitment strategy, but prising Ryerson from Dortmund will require a significant fee and convincing the player to leave a Champions League club. As negotiations progress, Sunderland fans are hopeful Ryerson’s Premier League ambition aligns with their vision of establishing a foothold in the top flight.[](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland)[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/teams/sunderland)
