Sunderland complete signing of DR Congo starlet Jules Ahoka

[p]The 20-year-old joins the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Black Cats[/a] after enjoying a breakthrough campaign in the Belgian top flight last season. He initially moved to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/antwerp/rVpPxw8H/"]Antwerp[/a] from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ac-milan/8Sa8HInO/"]AC Normands[/a] in his native DR Congo.[/p][p]With this, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ahoka-jules/lWunFlPc/"]Ahoka[/a] becomes Sunderland’s third signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/meunier-thomas/WUyrShAL/"]Thomas Meunier[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/methalie-dayann/v71VNtNg/"]Dayann Methalie[/a] at the Stadium of Light.[/p][embed guid="1ba36a4c-3a03-432c-9d95-de08ff518d13" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2091918493843378514" social-type="twitter" /][p]The DR Congo youth international has been handed the No. 29 shirt and is expected to add energy, strength and defensive bite to Regis Le Bris’ squad.[/p][p][b]“Jules is a player we have been following closely, and he has shown some very encouraging qualities for his age,”[/b] Sunderland’s Director of Football, Florent Ghisolfi, told the [a href="https://www.safc.com/news/2026/august/24/jules-ahoka-signs-for-sunderland-afc/" target="_blank"]club website.[/a][/p][p][b]“His performances at the Toulon Tournament demonstrated his physicality, defensive qualities and mentality, while he has also gained valuable experience in Belgium.[/b][/p][p][b]“He has huge potential and we believe Sunderland is the right environment for him to continue his development.[/b][/p][p][b]“We are delighted to welcome him to the club and look forward to supporting him as he takes the next steps in his career.”[/b][/p][image alt="Jules Ahoka" id="a697cd03-66b4-4a98-9986-28f3cf12f620" credit-line="Sunderland FC" guid="718101ff-0f09-47de-9196-a80b783b976e" original-width="1308" original-height="879" /][h2]Ahoka delighted to realise Premier League dream [/h2][p]Having impressed during his spell at Royal Antwerp, the midfielder is keen on experiencing the English top flight, a competition he followed on television growing up.[/p][p]He also promised to give his best for Sunderland as he aims to help the Black Cats achieve its goals and enjoy a successful season.[/p][p]“I am very happy and proud to join Sunderland,”[b] [/b]Ahoka told [a href="https://www.safc.com/news/2026/august/24/ahoka---i-m-ready-to-learn-and-develop-/" target="_blank"]Sunderland media.[/a][/p][p]“It is a big club with great ambitions, and I am excited to be here.[/p][p][b]“I want to work hard, learn from my team-mates and the staff, and continue developing as a player.[/b][/p][p][b]“I will give everything for the club and I cannot wait to get started.”[/b][/p][embed guid="6c2345e9-d51f-404c-923d-b094a9500b15" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2091929779599814742" social-type="twitter" /][p]He added: [b]“It’s an exciting start for me. I’ve always watched the Premier League on TV and I’m thrilled to be here.[/b][/p][p][b]“Now, it’s up to me to give everything I can to help the Club go as far as possible.”[/b][/p][p][b]“At first it was difficult for me to come from Africa and play in Europe, but I applied myself to the process and overcame those hurdles.[/b][/p][p]“I worked hard in training and started the season and played well.”[/p][h2]Ahoka relishing chance to learn from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xhaka-granit/QBHCDKff/"]Xhaka[/a] and Sadiki[/h2][p]Ahoka’s arrival at Sunderland takes the number of African players in the club’s squad to seven. He joins Morocco’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/talbi-chemsdine/Ayswm5ri/"]Chemsdine Talbi[/a], Mozambique’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mandava-reinildo/zekFd0M8/"]Reinildo[/a], Senegal midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diarra-habib/nFakLd1E/"]Habib Diarra[/a], DR Congo’s Noah Sadiki, and Ivory Coast duo [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adingra-simon/6kgBNHG6/"]Simon Adingra[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bi-jocelin-ta/bmQQNvto/"]Jocelin Ta Bi[/a].[/p][p]The midfielder is particularly pleased to reunite with compatriot Sadiki, who is already an established member of Regis Le Bris’ squad.[/p][p]He also sees the opportunity to learn from Sunderland captain and experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka.[/p][p]“I’m really happy to be here with Noah – he’s a good friend and that’s really useful,” he added.[/p][p]“We didn’t get to play together for the Congo national team, as they had left for the tournament before I was subsequently called up, but I’m really happy to get together now.[/p][p][b]“I’ve still got a lot of learning to do, so I can do that from watching how Granit and Noah play as I learn to adapt.”[/b][/p][p]Barring any issues, Ahoka could make his debut when the Black Cats host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fulham/69ZiU2Om/"]Fulham[/a] in their next Premier League fixture. [/p][p]The new signing will be hoping to help Sunderland return to winning ways after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ipswich/thqhB2MB/"]Ipswich Town[/a] in their opening league game of the season. [/p][p]Also, the 20-year-old will be eager to make an immediate impact as the team prepares for a busy campaign that also includes Europa League football.[/p][image alt="Author" id="f4d45071-c788-49d0-b0ec-8961c6dfb122" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f231ab03-b0c2-4940-9048-24980eb1b939" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]