Exclusive: Swindon Town agree deal to sign Sunderland’s Ben Middlemas
Swindon Town have won the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Ben Middlemas permanently after securing a full agreement, sources have told Football Insider.
A number of EFL clubs have shown an interest in signing Middlemas this month.
But League Two hopefuls Swindon have moved quickly to finalise a deal for the midfielder, with the fee and personal terms agreed.
Middlemas, 21, has come through the ranks at Sunderland, but never made a first-team appearance for the Black Cats.
The starlet has never had a taste of the EFL before in his career, with his only previous experience of senior football coming during a brief loan spell at South Shields in the 2024-25 campaign.
Ben Middlemas’ record for Sunderland U21s
Swindon are pushing for promotion from League Two, and they currently find themselves handily placed in the second automatic promotion spot just after the halfway mark of their campaign.
Ian Holloway’s side are gunning for a return to League One for the first time since 2020-21, and as a result, their January business will be hugely important to their aspirations in the second half of the season.
The Robins are now ready to make Middlemas their first permanent signing of the window, after Aidan Borland and Michael Olakigbe have already sealed loan moves to the County Ground.
Middlemas’ experience of the senior game is extremely limited, but he has been a key player for Sunderland’s U21 side in recent years.
He has notched two goals and seven assists for the Black Cats’ junior outfit across 21 appearances so far this season, and has already matched his tally of nine goal involvements from the 2024-25 campaign.
Patrick Roberts to follow Middlemas out of Sunderland this month
Football Insider exclusively revealed earlier this week that Sunderland are prepared to green light Patrick Roberts’ permanent exit this month, amid interest from his loan club Birmingham City.
Blues’ boss Chris Davies is keen to keep hold of the winger, who has been an influential part of his team so far this term, and talks are already underway over the possibility of turning his loan stint permanent.
Roberts is out of contract at the Stadium of Light in the summer, and while the Wearsiders have the option to extend his deal by a further year, there is a feeling that his race is run at his parent club.
Sunderland’s rapid progression as a club in recent months was always likely to see them outgrow some members of their squad, and now Roberts appears destined to follow Middlemas out the door this month.