Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce the signing of Ellis Simms.
The 21-year-old striker moves to the Stadium of Light on a season-long loan from Premier League outfit Everton.
An England youth international, Simms spent the second part of last season on loan in the Scottish Premiership with Heart of Midlothian, scoring seven goals in 21 appearances.
The move was the striker’s second loan spell away from Goodison Park, with the first coming during the 2020-21 season when he scored 10 goals to help fire Blackpool to promotion alongside Dan Ballard and Elliot Embleton.
Simms also spent time within Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City’s academies prior to joining the Toffees in 2017, enjoying a stunning 2018-19 campaign with the Under- 18s during which he scored 37 goals in 29 games.
His form continued after making the step up to Under-23 level one season later, as he scored nine times in 19 games, and he led the line for Everton’s first team in the Premier League against Chelsea in December 2021.
Simms said: “It feels great to be here - it’s such a massive club and I can’t wait to get started. As soon as Sunderland showed an interest, I knew this this would be a great environment for me to continue my development and a great platform to show what I can do. I’ve played in League One and the SPL, so this is the next step for me and I feel I’m ready for the Championship.”
Alex Neil added: “To have Ellis in the building [ahead of the first game] is great. He will compliment Ross Stewart, but equally he will provide competition and he joins following two really good loan spells at Blackpool and Hearts. He’s a big lad, who is direct, quick and mobile - and he’s been a serial goalscorer. There’s been a lot of Championship interest in Ellis, but we have managed to secure his signature and we are delighted to get the deal across the line.”