Brighton and Sunderland have agreed a permanent transfer for Simon Atingela for undisclosed terms. The Ivory Coast international made 73 appearances and scored 12 goals during his time at Brighton.  

Men’s first team head coach Fabian Hürzeler said: “I am very pleased to be working with Simon Atingela, who has made a significant contribution to the club during his time with the club.”  

"However, he is at a crucial stage in his career and will be looking to get regular playing time. Given the strong competition we have for wide positions, we cannot guarantee him that."  

"Joining Sunderland provides him with the opportunity to pursue more playing time. Therefore, on behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank Simon Atingela for his efforts for the team and wish him all the best in the future."  

The 23-year-old player joined Brighton from Nordsjælland Football Club in 2022 and was subsequently loaned to Royal Saint-Giroux in Belgium for the 2022-23 season.  

After returning in the 2023-24 season, he became an important member of Roberto De Zerbi's team, making 40 appearances and participating in all 8 Europa League games of the team. Last season, Simon Atingela played 29 times for Brighton in the Premier League, including 12 starts.  

At the same time, Simon Atingela has also made great achievements at the national team level. In 2024, he won the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast national team and scored two goals in the final, helping the team beat Nigeria 2-1 and was named the best player in the final.