Sunderland couldn’t get Geny Catamo out of Sporting this summer, but their determination to sign him is already looking pretty well justified.
The Mozambique international has started the season flying. Catamo is enjoying the best opening to a campaign of his career. He has one goal and three assists from Sporting’s first five matches.
His previous best at the same stage came in 2024/25, when he managed one goal and one assist. So, just days after Sunderland finally had to give up, Catamo is doing a decent job of showing why they spent so long chasing him.
Catamo picks up where he left off
This isn’t a five-game burst from nowhere, either. The winger finished last season in excellent form and has carried that straight into the new campaign.
He’s now the undisputed first choice on the right of manager Rui Borges’ attack. Ex-West Ham winger Luís Guilherme provides the competition, but Catamo has made the position his own.
His pace when attacking space and his ability in one-on-one situations is being showcased. A Bola pick out his movement into scoring positions and the danger he creates when cutting inside onto his left foot. And it has been working for Sporting.
| Geny Catamo | Goals | Assists | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 5 | 4 | 37 |
| 2024/25 | 7 | 2 | 46 |
| 2025/26 | 8 | 3 | 44 |
Those qualities clearly caught Sunderland’s attention over the summer. The Black Cats kept coming back for the 25-year-old despite Sporting repeatedly turning them away. Their final efforts could have reached €40m (£34.7m), while Catamo had a huge salary waiting for him in England.
That move didn’t happen. His performances since then certainly haven’t made Sunderland’s recruitment team look silly for trying.
Sunderland interest could earn him a reward
Catamo could now get an improved Sporting contract during the season. His current deal runs until 2029, but the Lisbon club may increase his salary and add another one or two years. That would potentially keep him tied down until 2030 or 2031.
Sporting want his terms to better reflect his status within the squad. They are also well aware that Sunderland’s interest may not be the last serious attention he receives from abroad.
For now, Catamo has simply got on with things. He didn’t get the Premier League move available to him this summer, yet there’s been no hangover on the pitch. Quite the opposite.
Five games, one goal and three assists represent his best start yet. Sunderland’s scouts appear to have got this one right. They just couldn’t convince Sporting to let them have him.
Now eyes will turn to the January window and next summer.
