Luke O’Nien joined Sunderland in League One and wants to help the club climb all the way back to the Premier League

Luke O’Nien has spelled out his Premier League ambition after signing a new long-term contract at Sunderland. Versatile defender O’Nien was in the final year of his deal on Wearside, but yesterday signed a new three-year contract that keeps him at the club until at least 2026 – with the option of a further 12 month extenstion.

The 28-year-old joined the Black Cats from Wycombe Wanderers five years ago when Sunderland had just been relegated to League One, and during his time at the club he was a key figure in the side that won promotion from the third tier the season before last and then reached the Championship play-off semi-finals last term before losing to eventual winners Luton Town. After going close last season, O’Nien is now setting his sights on helping Sunderland return to the Premier League.

Asked about his aspirations after signing his new contract, O’Nien said: “Premier League – whenever I walk down the seafront, that’s what everyone talks about and it gets me excited just thinking about it. That’s our goal, and we got close last season – I know it still hurts a little bit, but you get that feeling and belief that as a team we are not that far away.

“I feel that and I think the team feels that. [Getting to the] Premier League has always been the ambition since I joined the club.

“It took us a little bit longer to get back to the Championship – longer than I would have liked – but we got there, and there are little markers to show how far we have come and we have to keep on putting those little markers down, keep developing and growing as a team. If we keep hitting each marker, I think the Premier League will be very close to us.”

O’Nien has made 225 appearances in all competitions for the Black Cats, scoring 18 goals, and is a popular figure amongst fans. Born in Hertfordshire, O’Nien has settled into the area with wife Georgia, their two young children were both born in the North-East, and when Sunderland offered him the chance to extend his stay he says he ‘snapped their hand off’, adding that the club ‘means the world to us’.

“It feels incredible,” O’Nien told the club’s Youtube channel, when asked how it felt to have signed his new deal. “I’ve got so many people to thank for the journey so far, but I’ve loved my five years here and I didn’t want it to end, so when the opportunity came up to extend I snapped their hand off!

“I’m very grateful and I can’t wait to continue my journey and create some more incredible memories with some great people. I’ve had my two kids up here, and the football club itself is hard to describe – it is just incredible.

“My wife and I have called this place home for many years which shows how much we love this area, we’ve had our two kids up here. This club means the world to us.

“I used to watch [Sunderland] in the Premier League years and I never thought, growing up, that I would end up being here so when I had the opportunity to come here it was a huge surprise and I’ve loved every minute. Stepping out on the Stadium of Light pitch in front of that many people is something special, not many people get that opportunity.

“So when the opportunity to stay here for longer and keep on doing that, it was a huge honour for me and my family. I’m going to continue to play for all those people that would want to step out onto that pitch and show my gratitude to them by giving my all and trying to put in performances that they would be proud of.”