Djilobodji last played for Sunderland in August 2017.
Sunderland have posted a brutal statement on the future of defender Papy Djilobodji, giving the centre-back notice after he returned over a month late and ignoring requests to return – and some Sunderland fans are delighted with their club.
Djilobodji, 29, last appeared for Sunderland in August 2017 before going on loan to French club Dijon for the 2017-18 season. He made it clear to the League One side that he wanted to leave, following their relegation to the third tier.
The two parties agreed that the defender would go on unpaid leave for July in a bid to help Djilobodji “facilitate that desire” to leave. Failing to do so, he was expected to return following his month’s leave.
Despite written requests for him to return, he spent more than a month away from the club after the expected point of coming back. Eventually returning in September, he failed fitness tests comprehensively.
The statement reads after all considered: “Sunderland AFC can confirm that it has accepted Papy Djilobodji’s repudiatory breaches of contract and notice of the same has been provided to the player.”
With a contract until the summer of 2020, it is now believed that Djilobodji is expected to leave the club just over two years after the Black Cats signed him from Chelsea for £8million (BBC Sport), with the defender unlikely to be paid.
He made only 24 appearances for the club, costing Sunderland around £333,333 a game. Some fans reacted to the statement in joyous fashion, as they are desperate for the defender to be wiped off of the wage bill.
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