Sunderland AFC is delighted to confirm the signing of Jewison Bennette for an undisclosed fee.
The 18-year-old moves to the Stadium of Light from Costa Rican side C.S. Herediano, penning a four-year deal on Wearside with a Club option of a further year.
A winger by trade, the left-footed attacker has already earned six senior caps for Costa Rica, and he provided the all-important assist for Joel Campbell in June to send Los Ticos to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Bennette also became the youngest-ever player to represent his nation at 17 years and two months, coming on as a substitute against El Salvador in August 2021.
Bennette will wear the number 19 shirt for this season’s Sky Bet Championship campaign and he will train with his new teammates for the first time on Friday.
Following his arrival, the winger said: “I’m very happy and I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge. I’ve come here with the aim of helping the team as much as I can. When you see the Stadium of Light and this huge fan base, it gives you more motivation and desire to work hard day-to-day and give your all.”
Alex Neil added: “He is a huge talent and an international player. Our model is to unearth the best young talent and try to develop them, so for everyone it is very exciting. We need to be patient and allow him time to acclimatise to a new country and learn the language – he is certainly one for the future.”