Alious“We’ll See What the Club Wants” – Sunderland Defender Opens Up on His Future and Why Germany Feels Like Home
A Sunderland defender currently on loan in Germany has hinted that his long-term future remains undecided, while making it clear that the Bundesliga may be a better fit for his style of play. The 22-year-old centre-back, who featured three times for the Black Cats earlier this season, completed a deadline-day move to Wolfsburg and has no regrets about how events unfolded.
Speaking to *Eindhovens Dagblad*, the Dutch defender reflected on his transfer, his recovery from injury, and his early experiences of life in German football. Before his move to Wolfsburg, NEC Nijmegen had been pushing hard to secure his signature and had even reached a verbal agreement with Sunderland. However, the Premier League side ultimately opted to send him to Germany instead — a decision the player now feels has worked out in his favour.
As a young footballer, he believes the opportunity to test himself in one of Europe’s elite leagues has been invaluable. He explained that the Bundesliga offers more than just competitive football, highlighting the intense atmospheres and passionate crowds as major positives. For him, Germany has always held a special appeal, and playing there has only reinforced that feeling.
So far, the Dutchman has made nine appearances for Wolfsburg and feels increasingly comfortable with the demands of German football. In his view, the Bundesliga’s emphasis on technical quality and tactical structure suits him better than the English game.
He contrasted the two styles by pointing out that football in England often leans towards a more direct approach, with longer balls and a heavy reliance on set pieces. In Germany, however, the focus is more on building play from the back, maintaining possession, and executing tactical ideas with precision. He credits his football education at PSV for preparing him well for this environment, saying that those foundations continue to benefit him every day in training and matches.
Speculation around his future has intensified in recent days. Sky Deutschland reported earlier this week that Wolfsburg have already opened discussions with Sunderland about a permanent transfer. Meanwhile, *Kicker* has suggested the Bundesliga side are keen to negotiate a deal below the reported €15 million buy-out clause. The same report claims the defender himself would be open to extending his stay in Germany beyond this season.
Off the pitch, Wolfsburg have also undergone changes in the dugout. The club parted ways with fellow Dutchman Paul Simonis in November, appointing Daniel Bauer as interim head coach. When asked about the managerial change, the Sunderland-owned defender adopted a calm and professional stance.
He acknowledged that managerial upheaval is part of football and stressed the importance of continuing to perform regardless of changes behind the scenes. While he enjoyed a strong relationship with Simonis, he has also adapted well to working under the new coaching staff.
Looking ahead, the 22-year-old admitted that a decision on his future will ultimately rest with the clubs involved. For now, his focus remains firmly on the pitch. He wants to feature as regularly as possible in the coming months and play his part in helping Wolfsburg achieve their objectives before any final decisions are made at the end of the season.
Alious
