JEWISON Bennette has completed his loan move to Aris FC, with Sunderland confirming that there is no option or obligation for the Greek Super League side to make the deal permanent in the summer.

Sunderland head coach Michael Beale revealed to We Are Sunderland the club still have high hopes for the 19-year-old winger, who will return to the Academy of Light for the the start of next pre-season - sentiments echoed by sporting director Kristjaan Speakman after the Costa Rican completed his move across Europe.

Bennette has made 20 appearances for Sunderland since joining in the summer of 2022 but opportunities have been hard to come by this season having not featured since September’s 5-0 win over Southampton. Bennette has also rarely been involved for Sunderland's under-23s side with club officials and the coaching staff all in agreement that the Costa Rica international needed regular first team football elsewhere.

That will hopefully come in Greece, with Aris currently fifth in the top tier.

"Jewi is a player that I’ve got a lot of hope for in the future if I’m honest, but he’s got a need to play," Beale told We Are Sunderland following the win over Stoke City.

"Also, with his national team in the background and the tournaments they’ve got coming up, he needs to go and play and play now.

“I came in and the boy was probably looking to get a loan to give himself some regular football. But, come pre-season, Jewi will be back in the building.

“I’ve seen a lot that I like with Jewi so he’s a player for the future for us, for sure. It's not a loan to send someone away, it’s a loan to allow someone to play and get some oxygen to build up his confidence again.”

 

READ MORE: Inside Alex Pritchard's contract dispute and what Sunderland will lose with his exit

 

Bennette joined Sunderland in the summer of 2022 from Costa Rican side C.S. Herediano on a four-year deal with the option of a further year beyond that and sporting director Speakman, who confirmed there is no fee-to-buy in the deal, is hoping the move to Aris will stand the 19-year-old winger in good stead for his return to Wearside ahead of next season.

Speakman said: “We want to increase Jewison’s playing opportunities over the second part of the season and provide him the best chance for international selection - through both of these, we create the best conditions for him to return in the summer for our pre-season programme.

"There is no option or obligation in the agreement to convert it into a permanent move and it’s very much about the player’s development. We look forward to supporting Jewison’s progress from afar throughout the next few months.”