Sky Sports reported today, Sunday, that the young Spanish striker Mark Gioia is close to joining Sunderland after reaching a final agreement with Chelsea.

The network clarified that Chelsea has agreed to loan Gioia, who is 19 years old, to Sunderland for one season, and the player is expected to undergo medical examinations in the coming hours.

Sunderland continues its intensive activity in the summer transfer market, having already completed 8 deals, and Gioia is expected to be the ninth addition, as the club aims to remain in the Premier League during the 2025/2026 season.

Gioia scored 6 goals for Chelsea in 16 official matches during the 2024/2025 season, and his departure comes after the London club signed attacking duo Liam Delap from Ipswich Town and João Pedro from Brighton.

In a related context, the future of Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea remains unclear, amid reports that coach Enzo Maresca is looking to part ways with him after he has fallen to become the third attacking option in the team.