One of Tony Mowbray’s most important players is this Sunderland academy alum.
After a six-year exile that included a demotion to League One and four years in England’s third tier in the middle, Sunderland is one of many fallen giants attempting to climb back up to the Premier League.
The Black Cats have emerged from the ruins to compete against the top teams in the Championship, fighting for one of the automatic promotion positions.
The fact that they have been able to sign talented young players since they dropped to the second tier—players like Pierre Ekwah, Daniel Ballard, Jack Clarke, and most recently, Jobe Bellingham—has improved their chances of making it back to the top division.
A number of kids from Sunderland’s renowned youth program have burst onto the scene and seen their value soar. Chris Rigg, 16, is the most recent example, although other Black Cats graduates have also made the transition to the first team. Chris Rigg was born in 2007 and scored in the 5-0 thrashing of Southampton.
Since making his breakthrough in the 2020/21 campaign, Dan Neil has made a profound impact at the Stadium of Light, cementing his spot in the heart of their midfield and playing huge role in the club’s endeavors over the past few years.
How much was Dan Neil worth at the start of his career?
South Shield’s born Dan Neil was captured from Hebburn Town juniors at the age of eight and having grown up as a supporter of the Black Cats, had dreams of paying for his boyhood club.
The 5 foot 10 star would soon realise those dreams after making rapid progression through the underage groups, impressing for the U18s and U23s before being handed his first team in an injury-time win over Swindon in March 2021.
While the young player had a few chances to shine, mostly in the EFL Trophy, Neil’s big break came in the 2021/22 season when he made 39 League One appearances and significantly contributed to Sunderland’s promotion back to the second tier.
The emerging talent once led his hometown team to a Papa John Trophy victory over Lincoln City, but perhaps more significantly, talkSPORT analyst Ian Danter compared him to Manchester United legend Michael Carrick.
He stated, “I first saw Michael Carrick running a game at Molineux for Swindon on loan some years back. His performance recalled me of it. Very impressive indeed, and that goal is beautiful.
What is Dan Neil worth now?
From putting in that Carrick-esque performance, Neil’s progression from a promising homegrown prospect to an increasingly influential Championship midfielder has been the result of commitment, a relentless desire to improve and above all, exceptional coaching in an environment that encourages talent to flourish.
The 21-year-old’s expected transfer value (xTV), according to Football Transfers, increased from about £950k (€1.1m) in September 2022, on the strength of their promotion-winning campaign, to about £5.4m (€6.3m) in the present. This is due to the wide-ranging praise the player has received since making his first-team debut.
How has Dan Neil performed this season?
Putting aside a dubious red card against, coincidentally Carrick’s Middlesbrough last weekend, Sunderland’s midfield metronome has risen to stardom as one of the best midfielders in the Championship this season, excelling as the driving force in Mowbray’s midfield while showcasing his exceptional passing range.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool was very interested in signing Neil during the summer because they believed he might eventually fill the vacuum created by Jordan Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia. Liverpool had previously signed the England international from the Black Cats back in 2011.
Given his performances this season, it is easy to understand why the Reds have been keeping a close eye on the youngster for the past 12 months. He has the technical skills to make a huge impact in the final third, as evidenced by his two goals and two assists in 11 appearances while playing in a deep-lying midfield position.
The Black Cats academy graduate is a star that shines brightest when compared to his Championship positional peers for ball-playing ability. According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% for progressive carries, top 11% for pass completion, top 4% for successful take-ons, and top 9% for non-penalty goals. These commanding performances proved Danter was correct when he drew comparisons to Carrick.
The addition of Pierre Ekwah, who serves as the destructive ball-winner in the combination so that Neil’s technical abilities may bloom, has assisted the young player’s advancement in the first team.
They have forged an important combination in the center of Mowbray’s midfield, but since the Frenchman’s injury, Sunderland have been without the stability he offers. Once he recovers, they will have the necessary partnership to propel them to promotion.
