Sunderland have missed out on signing Polish international Marcin Bulka, as the 25-year-old goalkeeper has completed a £12.7 million move to Saudi Arabian club SC Neom.
Bulka had been a target for Sunderland for several weeks, with negotiations progressing as the newly promoted Premier League side aimed to strengthen their goalkeeping options. However, the former OGC Nice player has chosen a lucrative four-year deal in Saudi Arabia instead.
The 6ft 6in keeper made 89 appearances for Nice, initially joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before making the move permanent in 2022. He became the club’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2023 under coach Francesco Farioli but was expected to leave this summer after failing to agree on a contract extension. With just one year left on his deal and talks stalled for months, Nice decided to sell.
Sunderland had hoped to land Bulka as a high-profile addition to their squad, with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and head coach Régis Le Bris aiming to bring in proven top-flight talent. Bulka, who also has Champions League experience with PSG, was seen as a strong candidate to compete with current No.1 Anthony Patterson. However, they were ultimately outmatched.
SC Neom, recently promoted to Saudi Arabia’s top division, have made waves with high-profile signings including Alexandre Lacazette, Amadou Koné, and Saïd Benrahma, and are expected to continue investing heavily.
As for Sunderland, the search for an elite goalkeeper goes on. While Patterson remains first choice heading into pre-season, the club is eager to bring in more competition. Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic and Wolves’ Sam Johnstone have both been linked recently. Bulka’s decision highlights the growing financial pull of the Saudi Pro League, but Sunderland remain determined to strengthen their squad.
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