Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter is set to move on.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter has told Algemeen Dagblad in his native Netherlands that he will be leaving the club this summer no matter what their promotion fate is.
The Black Cats beat Portsmouth in the League One playoff semi-finals last week, and will now meet Charlton Athletic in the final for a place in the Championship.
Jack Ross will be hoping to take Sunderland back to the second tier at the first time of asking, but one player seemingly won’t be with the club next season no matter what happens.
Goalkeeper Ruiter was snapped up by Simon Grayson in 2017, landing him on a free transfer after his contract with Utrecht came to an end.
The 32-year-old made 21 appearances in his first season with the club but didn’t exactly impress, and has barely been seen this term, playing just seven games – and six of them came in the EFL Trophy.
With his contract expiring at the end of June, Ruiter looks set to move on in a matter of weeks, and has confirmed his intention to move on, regardless of Sunderland’s promotion fate.
Ruiter has acknowledged that he will move on when his deal ends, but wants to give Sunderland fans promotion first, before adding that he doesn’t regret signing for the club, even if his spell hasn’t exactly gone to plan.
“A lot has changed at the club after relegation,” said Ruiter. “There were new owners and a new Scottish manager, who brought his own Scottish keeper. At our first meeting after the summer break, he already indicated that I would be the second keeper and I had to deal with that. My contract expires and I will probably leave, but first I want to say goodbye with promotion. Our fans deserve that enormously.”
“I am only 32 years old, so I want to keep good for a few years. That can be at a club in the Netherlands, but abroad is also great. I certainly do not regret my choice for Sunderland,” he added.
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