Dayann Methalie’s £30m move to Premier League sealed as Sunderland finalize deal

French football will soon bid farewell to another promising talent. After prolonged negotiations, Toulouse FC and Sunderland AFC have finalized a deal for the transfer of left-back Dayann Methalie during the summer transfer window. The agreement was confirmed this Saturday.

Earlier in the week, Toulouse had reportedly declined an initial offer around €33 million for their young defender. However, a revised proposal of approximately €30 million—including potential bonuses—proved sufficient to secure the deal.

A restructured bonus structure and a higher upfront fee enabled the club, led by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, to conclude the agreement with the English side for the 20-year-old left-footed defender. Methalie is scheduled to travel to England this Saturday for his medical examination.

Methalie: A rising star in French football

As reported at the end of July, Dayann Methalie has already agreed to a five-year contract with Sunderland. A product of Toulouse’s youth academy, the French international under-21 player has enjoyed a standout season with the club.

Toulouse will receive around €30 million for their emerging talent, marking another significant financial boost following the sale of Brazilian defender Emerson to Ipswich Town for nearly €32 million.

Regularly deployed as a left wing-back, Methalie made 30 appearances across all competitions in the 2025-2026 season, contributing two goals and two assists in Ligue 1. Though several European clubs pursued him during the transfer window, the youngster was swayed by Sunderland’s ambitious project under manager Régis Le Bris, which emphasizes attacking football.