Every Championship player released so far as Sunderland search for new recruits

Sunderland will strengthen their squad over the summer after reaching the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship. The Black Cats returned to the second tier after a four-year stay in League One and outperformed expectations as they finished sixth in the table.

Tony Mowbray’s squad – the youngest in the division – had to cope with a catalogue of long-term injury problems to star men including Ross Stewart, Corry Evans, and Dan Ballard. Those injury issues exposed areas that need reinforcing next season, not least with the addition of at least one more cenntre-forward, and further central defensive cover.

Towards the end of the season, Mowbray said he had held talks with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and head of recruitment Stuart Harvey to make plans for the summer, and those plans will be finalised and acted upon before the new season begins. Sunderland are again likely to combine paid-for signings with free agents and loan additions to bolster their squad.

READ MORE: Kristjaan Speakman confirms Sunderland will not take up their option to buy Edouard Michut

The Black Cats have yet to announce their retained list but Carl Winchester was the only senior player out of contract, and he has already confirmed that he will be leaving after spending last season on loan at League One Shrewsbury Town. The majority of Championship clubs have already made their retained lists public already, and some of the players released may come into the thinking of Sunderland’s recruitment department.

Here is a full list of the Championship players who are free agents this summer.

Table of Contents

Birmingham City

Released: Maxime Colin, Harlee Dean, Troy Deeney, George Friend, Jordan Graham, Kevin Long

Blackburn Rovers

Released: Daniel Ayala, Sam Burns, Dan Butterworth, Bradley Dack, Ben Brereton Diaz, Aidan Dowling, Dan Pike

Blackpool

Released: Keshi Anderson, Liam Bridcutt, Luke Garbutt, Harvey Hughes, Beryly Lubala, Gary Madine, Chris Maxwell, Stuart Moore, Curtis Nelson, Kevin Stewart, Joe Strawn, Jordan Thorniley

Bristol City

Released: Nathan Baker, Jay Dasilva, Taylor Moore, James Morton

In talks: Tomas Kalas, Andy King, Han-Noah Massengo

Burnley

Released: Matt Lowton

Huddersfield Town

Released: Rolando Aarons, Romoney Critchlow, Matty Daly, Danny Grant, Florian Kamberi, Josh Ruffels, Ryan Schofield, Tomas Vaclik

In talks: Luke Daley, Josh Koroma, Danny Ward

Hull City

Released: Billy Chadwick, Callum Elder, Tyler Smith

Offered new contract: David Robson

Millwall

Released: Mason Bennett, Scott Malone

Offered new contracts: Ryan Leonard, Connal Trueman

Norwich City

Released: Sam Byram, Kieran Dowell, Michael McGovern, Josh Martin, Teemu Pukki, Danel Sinani

Preston North End

Released: Dana Amaral, Aaron Bennett, Lewis Coulton, Harry Nevin, Matthew Olosunde

Offered new contracts: Robbie Brady, Greg Cunningham, Daniel Johnson, Josh Onomah

Queens Park Rangers

Released: Ody Alfa, Luke Amos, Leon Balogun, Conor Masterson, Charlie Owens, Olamide Shodipo

Offered new contracts: Jordan Archer, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Aaron Drewe, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Chris Martin

Reading

Released: Scott Dann, Lucas Joao, Shane Long, Liam Moore, Luke Southwood, Dejan Tete

Offered new contracts: Junior Hoilett, Amadou Mbengue, Yakou Meite

Rotherham

Released: Wes Harding, Robbie Hemfrey, Mackenzie Warne, Richard Wood

In talks: Tyler Blackett, Sean Morrison, Chiedozie Ogbene, Lee Peltier, Josh Vickers

Stoke City

Released: Sam Clucas, Demeaco Duhaney, Aden Flint, Morgan Fox, Phil Jagielka, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Nick Powell

Offered new contract: Frank Fielding

Swansea City

Released: Andreas Sondergaard

Set to leave as things stand: Joel Latibeaudiere, Ryan Manning, Kyle Naughton