Sunderland defender Jacob Young has joined Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim on a free transfer.

The 19-year-old rejected an offer to extend his contract with the Black Cats, choosing instead to join the German top-flight outfit.

The Australian-born player announced his exit on Instagram and added that he was "looking forward to this new challenge."

Described by the club as "a tall, commanding left-footed defender", Young appeared 14 times for the Sunderland under-23s last season.

The centre-back has never made an appearance for the Sunderland senior side but has made 52 combined appearances for the under-18s and under-23s, and made the substitute bench for the first-team in their EFL Trophy game against Morecambe back in November.

Young joined the North East club in July 2016 from Australian side Cockburn City.

Verdict

The impact of Young's exit is difficult to gauge as the central defender had never made a senior appearance for the club but there is a worrying trend beginning to emerge at the Stadium of Light.

The defender joins Arsenal's Sam Greenwood, Leeds United's Morten Spencer, and a number of others, on the list of Black Cats academy players to depart over the past 12 months.

Sunderland boss Jack Ross suggested earlier this month that losing academy players to bigger clubs was the greatest challenge to the club's youth system and this latest exit will likely be a disappointing one for him.