AA: I’ll show you all what I can do
DEFENDER STUNNED BY SPEED OF MOVE - BUT IS GLAD TO JOIN
NEW signing Aji Alese is ready to make a fresh start on Wearside and show Sunderland fans what he is capable of.
The Black Cats completed the signing of defender Alese from West Ham last week and his switch shocked fans in East London who saw one of their brightest academy talents depart.
However, the Hammers’ loss is Sunderland’s gain and 21-year-old Alese has joined the Black Cats knowing he will have more firstteam opportunities in the Championship than he would under David Moyes in the Premier League.
Asked about the West Ham fans’ reaction to his departure, he said: “I was not aware of that but that is nice to know.
“It is always nice to be admired wherever you are but I have left West Ham now and it is time to show the Sunderland fans what I can do.
“Now I am here in Sunderland I am just going to try my best, help out the team and play for the fans.”
Alese has played alongside Sunderland’s Dan Neil for England Under-20s and also knows former Arsenal defender Dan Ballard and London-born Jay Matete from his time in the capital - and he was attracted by the prospect of playing for a club where young talent is being given a chance to thrive.
Of the increased first-team opportunities on offer at Sunderland, Alese added: “Yeah 100 percent and whenever you see young players doing well and thriving at a club you know that is somewhere you would like to be.
“I knew Dan Neil and Dan Ballard and Jay and they have been doing well here so it kind of attracted me towards the club.”
Alese had a whirlwind introduction, signing last Friday and immediately heading to Scotland with the squad for a friendly against Dundee United a day later, when he made his debut as a substitute. He then started Tuesday’s friendly at Bradford City.
He said: “It has been a crazy four or five days and I have just been stuck in a hotel and literally trained twice and featured in two games. It has been a busy few days.
“It has been a little bit difficult but at the same time it is probably better to be travelling with the squad and in matches because the best way to learn how my teammates play and to get to know them in training sessions, rather than being at home. It is definitely easier that way.”
The move itself came virtually out of the blue, with little – if any – speculation which usually surrounds the arrival of a new player.
Alese added: “It was all done very quick and I think that is what Sunderland wanted to do, they wanted to keep it under wraps and get it done as quick as possible.
“When the contact was made I knew I wanted to come here and it was all done very quickly.”
Alese plays as a left-sided centreback but can also operate at leftback, head coach Alex Neil saying he brings good balance to the side as a natural left-footer.
He insisted: “I am happy to play wherever the gaffer wants me to play, I am happy to go and do a job there.
“Preferably on the left-hand side but I am happy to give it a go and give 100 per cent wherever I am put.”
Alese spent a spell on loan with Accrington Stanley in League One in 2019-20 – making his league debut against Sunderland in a 3-1 Black Cats win at the Crown Ground in September 2019.
He could come up against the Lancashire side when the Wearsiders head there for their latest preseason friendly tomorrow.
The defender said: “I have not been back there since I left so it will be nice to go there and see some familiar faces.
“I am finding out very quickly that football is a very small world and a few weeks ago I would not have said I would be at Sunderland and going to Accy on the weekend. I just have to look forward to that.”