The 20-year-old Congolese midfielder has joined Sunderland from Royal Antwerp on a long-term contract and will wear the No. 29 shirt.
Congolese midfielder Jules Ahoka has completed a move to English Premier League club Sunderland AFC from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
Sunderland officially announced Ahoka's signing on August 24. The 20-year-old has agreed to a long-term contract with the Black Cats and has been assigned the No. 29 shirt.
The transfer takes the Kinshasa-born prospect into one of the world's most-watched football leagues after a rapid rise from Congolese football to Belgium and now England.
Ahoka Joins Sunderland's Congolese Group
Ahoka will link up with fellow Congolese midfielder Noah Sadiki at the Stadium of Light. His arrival gives Sunderland another young DRC talent in a midfield group that also includes Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra.
In an interview published by Sunderland, Ahoka said he was proud to join the club and ready to continue learning and developing alongside his new teammates.
The midfielder arrives from Royal Antwerp, where he had already featured in the opening matches of the Belgian league season. He joined Antwerp from AC Normands in the DRC in September 2025 before earning his move to English football less than a year later.
DRC Youth International Takes Next Step
Ahoka represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo at youth level and was part of the squad that finished fourth at the 2026 Toulon Under-20 tournament. His performances at the competition highlighted his physical strength, defensive ability and potential in central midfield.
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Congolese Midfielder Jules Ahoka Joins Sunderland in Premier League
Aug 25, 2026
Aug 25, 2026
3 min read
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The 20-year-old Congolese midfielder has joined Sunderland from Royal Antwerp on a long-term contract and will wear the No. 29 shirt.
Congolese midfielder Jules Ahoka has completed a move to English Premier League club Sunderland AFC from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.
Sunderland officially announced Ahoka's signing on August 24. The 20-year-old has agreed to a long-term contract with the Black Cats and has been assigned the No. 29 shirt.
The transfer takes the Kinshasa-born prospect into one of the world's most-watched football leagues after a rapid rise from Congolese football to Belgium and now England.
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Ahoka Joins Sunderland's Congolese Group
Ahoka will link up with fellow Congolese midfielder Noah Sadiki at the Stadium of Light. His arrival gives Sunderland another young DRC talent in a midfield group that also includes Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra.
In an interview published by Sunderland, Ahoka said he was proud to join the club and ready to continue learning and developing alongside his new teammates.
The midfielder arrives from Royal Antwerp, where he had already featured in the opening matches of the Belgian league season. He joined Antwerp from AC Normands in the DRC in September 2025 before earning his move to English football less than a year later.
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DRC Youth International Takes Next Step
Ahoka represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo at youth level and was part of the squad that finished fourth at the 2026 Toulon Under-20 tournament. His performances at the competition highlighted his physical strength, defensive ability and potential in central midfield.
beIN Sports confirmed that Ahoka has joined Sunderland on a long-term deal. The outlet also reported that he becomes the club's third signing of the summer.
Sunderland director Florent Ghisolfi said the club had followed Ahoka closely and viewed the Stadium of Light as the right environment for the midfielder's continued development.
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Ahoka described joining Sunderland as a proud moment and said he is prepared to work hard for the club. His move places another Congolese prospect on the Premier League stage and continues the growing presence of DRC players in major European competitions.
Sunderland has not publicly disclosed the official transfer fee or every contractual detail.
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