EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey Chris Rigg has shunned interest from Premier League giants Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United and Newcastle in order to stay put at Sunderland.

After Tottenham Hotspur hi-jacked Brentford's deal for Archie Grey - the Leeds United teenager expected to end up in North London sooner rather than later - another of the Championship's most coveted young midfielders has made a very different decision regarding his own future.

HITC have been informed that some of the top-flight's biggest and wealthiest clubs had all taken an interest in Chris Rigg. Chelsea are keen, Enzo Maresca's side on the lookout for more of the game's rising stars after agreeing deals for Barcelona's Marc Guiu and Estevao Willian.

There is also admiration for Rigg at Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United and Sunderland's local rivals Newcastle.

But, in a major boost to the Black Cats, the England Under 17 captain has now opted to commit his future to the club who handed him his senior debut in January 2023, Rigg becoming the youngest player in Sunderland's entire history as a result.

But, in a boost to Sunderland's new head coach Regis Le Bris, Rigg will now be staying around for at least one more year. His current contract is due to expire in 2025, per Transfermarkt, but it is likely that he will now sign a new deal with fresh terms.

Rigg only turned 17 in June. Born on South Tyneside in Hebburn, the local lad started each of the last 13 Championship games in 2023/24.

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He will hope to begin the new campaign in Le Bris' starting XI, the former FC Lorient coach looking to build on Mowbray's excellent work with regards to Sunderland's best up-and-comers including Rigg, Jobe Bellingham, Dan Neil and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Patterson, HITC understands, has also caught the eye of the Premier League's big hitters.

Rigg made his Sunderland debut under Tony Mowbray "Chris is doing very well. He's a very robust kid. He's a joy to watch in training, to be honest," Mowbray said of Rigg two months before his sacking in late-2023, via the Sunderland Echo.

"He doesn't worry about who the big stars are in our team or anything like that. He will scythe them down if the ball is there to be won. Listen, that is a great quality. And he is a lovely footballer, too. Even at such a young age, he is a leader through what he does and how he trains, an amazing kid given his age.

"I enjoy watching the careers of the players that I've worked with and Riggy is one where you are thinking to yourself, where is he going to be when I watch him in 10 years time and he's 25 (or) 26?

"In my opinion, undoubtedly at a top team in the Premier League if he keeps working like he does. Let's hope that top team is Sunderland, competing to get into Europe.

"But you never know. He could go anywhere because he is an amazing talent."