Exclusive: Frozen Out at Sunderland, Timothée Pembélé Plots France Move with Le Havre Leading Chase

Out-of-favour Timothée Pembélé wants to swap Sunderland for France, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Our sources understand the Black Cats told Pembélé he could leave the club in the summer following their long-awaited return to the Premier League.

And our sources have been told the defender is eager to return to his homeland with Le Havre top of his destination wishlist .

The 23-year-old impressed during a loan spell their last season, helping the club to Ligue 1 survival. 

Frozen out Pembélé had grown increasingly frustrated by his role at the Black Cats, playing U21 football, and jumped at the chance when Le Havre came calling. 

He scored a memorable winner in a game against Nantes which ultimately secured the club's stay in the French top flight.

In a club statement after the end of his loan deal read: “It was one of the magnificent images of the season. An image etched in the minds of all Le Havre supporters, one of the symbols of the mental strength of this team, the one that would allow them to snatch survival directly at the very end of the last day."

“The versatile 22-year-old defender brought his energy and talent. Thank you, Tim, and good luck!”

England Move a Flop

It is understood there are a number of other French clubs interested in the player, who is contracted to the Black Cats until 2028.

The right-back came through the ranks at PSG and was an impressive youngster who signed his first professional contract at the club when he was 15.

He spent a spell on loan with Bordeaux in the 2021/22 campaign, who were on course to trigger an option to buy before the player suffered a serious ACL injury.

Pembélé penned a five-year deal at Sunderland in 2023 and struggled during an injury-hit first season at the club, making just three league starts.