Is Chelsea Striker Marc Guiu Joining Sunderland on Loan?

London, Aug 7 (NationPress) Sunderland is actively enhancing its roster as the club makes its return to the Premier League by securing the loan of former FC Barcelona striker Marc Guiu from Chelsea for the 2025-2026 season.

The 19-year-old forward had featured in 16 matches for Chelsea last season, scoring six goals. However, the club has opted to loan him out to acquire additional top-flight experience with Sunderland, who recently ascended back to the Premier League after clinching last season's play-off from the Championship.

Sunderland has made significant investments since confirming their promotion, having spent over 100 million pounds on new players, including Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra, and Granit Xhaka, the latter returning to the Premier League from Bayer Leverkusen, according to reports from Xinhua.

"I’m feeling fantastic and am eagerly anticipating the upcoming season," Guiu expressed. In 2023, he briefly held the record as the youngest player to score for Barcelona in La Liga.

"I consider myself a powerful striker capable of making significant contributions both on and off the ball, and I take pride in being a natural goalscorer," he added.

"This season represents a tremendous opportunity for me to help elevate this team to where it truly belongs, and I’m excited to get started," he stated on Sunderland's website.

Sunderland’s Director of Football, Kristjaan Speakman, also expressed enthusiasm about Guiu’s addition.

"The competition for his signature was intense, and he had numerous high-quality options this summer; thus, we are thrilled he has chosen Sunderland. Marc is a forward with progressive attributes that fit well within our team's structure. Beyond being a threat in the final third, we see many ways he can influence matches," he remarked.

Guiu gained recognition after advancing through FC Barcelona’s prestigious youth academy, La Masia, which has produced remarkable talents including Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Lamine Yamal, and Lionel Messi.

He debuted for the senior team against Athletic Bilbao in October 2023, scoring after just 23 seconds, setting the record as the youngest and fastest debutant to score for Barcelona in La Liga at 17 years and 291 days.

After making seven senior appearances for Barcelona, including two in the UEFA Champions League, Guiu transferred to Stamford Bridge last summer and had a fruitful debut season in England, contributing to Chelsea's triumph in the UEFA Conference League and their global championship victory.