“It is a dream come true for me to play in the Premier League, and I'm thrilled to join an historic club like Sunderland. I'm eager to meet my new teammates, work together, and give everything for the club. My goal is to help my teammates, share my experience, and make the fans happy,” Mandava said.

Sunderland's Sporting Director, Kristjaan Speakman, discussed the signing, highlighting Mandava's versatility as a player who can play at left-back or in central defense. Speakman noted that Mandava's passion for joining the club was a key factor in finalizing the transfer, despite initial delays due to his involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.

“We're delighted to welcome Reinildo to Wearside. His experience and skillset make him an ideal fit for our squad composition. He's highly motivated to join our club and become the first Mozambican to play in the Premier League. We're looking forward to welcoming him to Sunderland later this month,” Speakman said.

Mandava will join a growing list of new players at the Stadium of Light, including Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki, as Sunderland aims to build a competitive team worthy of the Premier League and avoid relegation to the Championship.