‘Reunited and it feels so good’ was the lyric from a song by Peaches & Herb back in 1978. Well, that line applies to Regis Le Bris and Enzo Le Fee who have been brought together again, this time on Wearside, after Sunderland made the French midfielder their first signing of the January transfer window.

After an 18-month absence away from each other in footballing circles, Le Bris is confident his side will reap the rewards of a player who has built a reputation for being one of Europe’s most promising talents under his stewardship.

Le Bris was one of the leading figureheads behind Le Fee’s development into professional football through his childhood. Le Fee is an academy product of FC Lorient progressing his way through the youth ranks into becoming a prominent figure in the first-team before his move to Stade Rennais and then giants Italian Roma in the summer of 2024.

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The Sunderland head coach went into detail about his journey through the youth ranks. “I started with him when he was 13 in Brittany,” said Le Bris. “When I started my new job, he was very young. I knew that he could be a good player for the academy and improve a lot. He was very talented but being talented as a young player and becoming a professional footballer is very different.

“He struggled with a major knee injury and it stopped his pathway for six months but after, he wasn’t too mature. There was no power, no speed and he was smaller than the other players but then he grew really quickly. Because he was so talented, his physical attributes helped him to reach another level. He was very good at the academy with the Under-19s, with the reserves.

“The first one or two seasons with the professional team was difficult but after this period, he showed his talent.”

As detailed, those remaining two seasons were during a time when Le Bris was appointed as head coach of the first-team leading Lorient to a tenth place finish in what was a blistering start to Ligue 1. With the pair working in tandem again in a first-team environment, the midfielder proved to be a vital component in the side.

Le Bris continued: “The style of play of the academy was consistent from the beginning until the reserve team. It wasn’t really the case with the first team because it was different so when I started as a head coach, the style of play was consistent for the whole club.

“It was very natural for him then because he used to play in that style of play. In 4-2-2, 4-3-3, the way we wanted to connect the players.

“For him, it was a new breath of fresh air. He was very important. The first six months were very impressive. I think we were fifth in the table in the end.

“The dynamic of the season changed in the end because two forward were sold. Our strength became totally different because we didn’t have pace and speed at the top of the pitch so it was more difficult. After two or three months, it became better.

“For example, we won at Paris St Germain 3-1 and it was a very good game but we changed the shape and the position of Enzo. It was a 3-4-3 with a box in the middle and without speed, it was totally different. He did really well.”

Le Fee links up with a side who currently have an unbeaten record at home in the league this season, sit three points off the top of the table and firmly in line for a Championship play-off spot. The 24-year-old has already experienced top-level football at such a young age in his career but his character and footballing ability is what matters most to the head coach.

“For him, I think it is very important to fit in with the right environment,” said Le Bris. “I think this is a really good signing for Sunderland. If we can be attractive for this level of player, then it is a good sign for us.

“It’s still a challenge for us and him to adapt quickly because the level is high and competition is high. We don’t have time to struggle and find the right balance because the league is so difficult. You always have to show your good qualities and he can do that with us.”