Enzo Le Fee says that trying to help Sunderland win promotion to the Premier League is the “perfect project” to reignite his career.
Le Fee is at the Stadium of Light on loan from Roma after struggling to make an impression in the Italian capital.
The French midfielder, 25, scored his first goal for the Black Cats in their win over Luton Town as they remain fourth in the Championship.
“When I came here, I wanted to play football, to find again my football,” he told BBC Radio Newcastle.
“For me, it’s the perfect project. A very young team that I can help with my goals, my assists, my fight.”
Le Fee joined Roma last summer for a fee reportedly worth up to 23m euros, but he managed only 10 appearances. It was a troubled period for the Serie A club in which they had three head coaches.
So when he received a message from Black Cats head coach Regis Le Bris, with whom he had worked back in France at Lorient, he was happy to listen.
And it did not take long for him to sign up for Sunderland’s promotion effort as they seek Premier League football for the first time since 2017.
“He [Regis] asked me how I was feeling in Rome,” said Le Fee. “He knew that I didn’t play a lot.
“He called me after to speak about the project, but he didn’t need to speak a lot because it’s him; I know him a long time.
“I told my agent, ‘I want to go to Sunderland’, and now I’m here.”
Le Fee now has one goal and two assists from his six appearances so far for Sunderland, as he has added creative flair to their promotion push.
They are unbeaten in those games with three wins and three draws, but they are seven points behind leaders Leeds United and five points shy of Sheffield United in second, with a trip to Leeds on Monday night next up.
Le Fee watched Sunderland’s Netflix documentary as soon as he arrived on Wearside to give him more understanding of his new club, and he has settled in nicely.
“If I feel good in my head on the pitch, I will help the team, for sure,” he added. “It’s confidence.
“I want to help the team to go to the Premier League because I am here for that.”
