Matías Soulé: Sunderland’s Right-Wing Hope

Sunderland fans are still buzzing about last season’s European debut dreams, and the club’s search for a genuine right‑winger has become a hot topic. The squad struggled to fill that flank during the promotion campaign, relying on players drafted from other positions and coping with the loss of Bertrand Traoré after his departure. The club’s hierarchy now faces pressure to land a disruptive talent who can unlock stubborn defences and replicate the excitement of a Patrick Roberts‑style burst or Amad Diallo’s loan spell.

Who Is Matías Soulé?

The Argentine midfielder, Matías Soulé Malvano, hails from Mar del Plata and turns 23 this year. He plays primarily as a left‑footed attacking midfielder/wide forward for Serie A giants AS Roma, a team that has invested heavily in attacking talent. Soulé began his European journey in Juventus’s academy before breaking into the first team’s spotlight on loan at Frosinone, where he netted 11 goals and provided three assists in 36 appearances. That impressive showing earned Roma a €28 million transfer in the summer of 2024, and he has since logged 81 matches, 12 goals and 12 assists for the Giallorossi.

Despite holding Italian citizenship, Soulé pledged his international loyalty to Argentina after being called up by Lionel Scaloni at age 18, though he has yet to earn a cap. His arrival at Roma was orchestrated by director of football Florent Ghisolfi, raising speculation that the club’s former DoF might be linked to a potential move to the Stadium of Light.

Why Sunderland Needs a Right‑Winger

Last term’s squad relied heavily on Trai Hume and Chris Rigg to fill the right‑hand slot, often pulling them out of their natural positions. The injury‑prone Bertrand Traoré was the only true option, and his departure left a glaring hole. Fans have longed for a player who can combine swagger, creativity and the ability to cut inside while maintaining a high work rate.

Comparisons have been made to Patrick Roberts in his prime and to Amad Diallo’s impressive loan spell, both of whom offered pace, dribbling skill and a knack for unlocking tight defences. The club’s scouting reports now circle Matías Soulé as a potential answer to that unmet need, given his reputation for disrupting defensive shapes and delivering moments of magic.

Soulé’s Numbers on the Pitch

Statistical performance underscores Soulé’s premium status. He completed 35 successful dribbles at a rate of 1.47 per 90 minutes, placing him in the 90th percentile for dribblers, while his 104 attempts (4.37 per 90) rank 81st. The attacking midfielder averaged 7.70 entries into the final third, sitting at the 97th percentile, and carried the ball into that zone 3.66 times, again 97th.

His touch count of 1,516 (95th percentile) included 98 touches inside the opponent’s penalty area (89th). Creatively, Soulé recorded five assists from an expected assist value of 4.88, both in the high 80s percentile. He delivered 21 crosses with a 30 % success rate, created 45 chances (89th), and completed 835 passes, with 4.84 per 90 directed into the final third (93rd).

Financially, Soulé netted six Serie A goals, outperforming his xG of 3.96, and his shooting metrics sit in the low‑90s percentiles for shots, shots on target and xG on target. His combination of dribbling, creative output, and finishing makes him a dynamic wide‑forward capable of exploiting the gaps Sunderland has struggled to close.

Transfer Talk and Feasibility

Sunderland’s fans are already buzzing about a €35 million price tag, a figure that would eclipse the club’s previous record‑breaking signing for a second consecutive season. Roma’s own investment in Soulé two years ago was €28 million, suggesting that a similar outlay could be realistic for a side looking to make a statement in European competition. However, the economics remain a point of careful consideration for the Black Cats’ hierarchy.

The connection to Florent Ghisolfi adds an intriguing layer. As one of his first marquee signings at Roma, Soulé’s track record under Ghisolfi’s watch may give the director of football confidence to replicate the move at Stadium of Light, should the financial levers be pulled.

What This Could Mean for Sunderland

Signing Soulé would provide Sunderland with a proven, top‑tier talent who can operate on the right flank while offering creativity, pace and a lethal eye for goal. His ability to drive full‑backs towards their goal line or cut inside on his left foot aligns with the style the club has lacked. Moreover, the depth of his statistics—high percentiles across dribbling, key passes and chance creation—suggests he could become the catalyst needed to break down well‑organized defenses in the Championship and later in Europe.

Beyond the pitch, the excitement surrounding a high‑profile capture could galvanize the fanbase, reinforce Sunderland’s ambition to compete at a higher level and set the tone for future recruitment strategies. Whether the deal materializes remains uncertain, but Soulé’s profile certainly matches the narrative of a club on the rise.

Matías Soulé’s blend of South American flair, technical proficiency and goal‑threat positions him as a potential cornerstone for Sunderland’s attacking redesign. Whether the summer move becomes reality will hinge on boardroom decisions, but for now the speculation adds a fresh chapter to an already memorable campaign for the Black Cats.