Luke who’s talking: SAFC star reflects on rise from grassroots to greatness
Written by Michael Hope on 7th October 2025
Luke O’Nien of Sunderland celebrates at Wembley.
Sunderland defensive midfielder Luke O’Nien recently shared a heartfelt post on his Instagram feed, about his journey through a footballing career which has seen him rise from non-league football to Premier League action.
Most recently, he was named as a substitute for Sunderland’s match away at Manchester United, prompting him to reflect on his career as a whole.
He wrote: “I remember sitting on the grass at Wealdstone because the bench was full, waiting for my chance and hoping for a moment to prove myself.
“Last weekend, after a long lay-off, I was sitting on the bench at Old Trafford in the Premier League. It’s funny how life comes full circle.”
Starting out at Watford FC at youth level, in 2014 O’Nien was sent on loan to Wealdstone FC, who at the time played in step seven of the English non-league pyramid. He spent the 2014-15 season with ‘The Stones’, before being sold to Wycombe Wanderers in the summer of 2015-16.
O’Nien then spent three seasons with ‘The Chairboys’, making over 100 appearances for them and playing a crucial part in securing their promotion to Sky Bet League One during the 2017-18 season.
In the summer of 2018, then-Sunderland manager Jack Ross signed him, initially on a two year deal. Since then, O’Nien has played his part in helping Sunderland rise from League One all the way back to the Premier League, making 264 appearances and scoring 21 goals.
During his time with the Black Cats, O’Nien has transitioned from a midfield position to a more defensive role, with stints as a rightback and centre back. This has allowed for him to become more diverse and offer the team more as a result.
O’Nien has become a local hero around Wearside as, during the previous season, he became club captain and led the Black Cats to promotion via the play-offs. He stepped up under Regis Le Bris’ leadership and in August 2025 dedicated his future to the Black Cats, extending his stay until 2027.
