NL 2025/26 Preview: Sutton United

7th July 2025 8:18 pm

Sutton United – 2025/26 Season Preview: Reinforcements, Regrets & Reinvigoration

No club slipped back into National League life last season quite as quietly as Sutton United.

Fresh from League Two relegation, the U’s neither collapsed nor climbed — finishing 12th in a season defined more by what could’ve been than what was. A solid mid-table campaign, a respectable cup run, and 18 goals from Will Davies… all capped by his inevitable exit this summer.

And now? The rebuild is on. Davies is gone. The goals with him. A wall of defenders recruited, but fans are asking: who’s going to put the ball in the net?

This isn’t a club in crisis. But it is a club at a crossroads — and 2025/26 will reveal whether Steve Morison’s methodical approach has teeth… or just tackles.

2024/25 Season in Review

Final Position: 12th
Average Attendance: 2,638 (7th highest)
FA Cup: 1st Round – lost 0–1 vs Birmingham City (H)
FA Trophy: Quarter-Final – lost 0–2 vs Spennymoor (H)
Top Scorer: Will Davies (20 goals, all competitions)

The U’s finished slap bang in mid-table — a season neither to remember nor forget. After flirting with form and falling back, Sutton ended up drifting quietly into 12th with a respectable home record but a familiar struggle for consistency on the road.

Will Davies bagged 20 goals, all comps, and rightly earned his move up the pyramid, joining Fleetwood Town in League Two for one of the largest fees in Sutton’s history. Whether the U’s cashed in at the right time or lost a talisman just as he hit his peak will be debated well into winter.

Summer Activity

Sutton United have been quietly effective this summer, strengthening Steve Morison’s squad with a clear focus on building depth, potential, and sustainability in the National League. The standout addition is goalkeeper David Aziaya, whose 6’6” frame and modern, composed style arrive from Bromley after valuable development spells at Salisbury, Dartford, and Finn Harps. His shot-stopping ability and comfort with the ball at his feet align with Sutton’s desire to build from the back, while the arrival of goalkeeping coach Kyri Neocleous, reuniting with Morison from Hornchurch, underlines a clear refresh in the goalkeeper department following Andy Little’s departure.

The back line has been reinforced with Will Tizzard and Edon Pruti, both adding composure and presence at centre-back. Tizzard, with his Southampton academy education and Scottish Championship experience, offers calmness on the ball and suits possession-focused systems, while Pruti, a left-footed Albanian youth international, brings physicality and aerial dominance honed during spells at Farnborough, Slough, and Brentford’s B team. These additions help offset the exit of Tyler French to Solihull Moors, ensuring Sutton retain both leadership and flexibility in defence. Meanwhile, Aaron Jones, arriving after captaining Aldershot to FA Trophy glory, provides experience and attacking threat from right-back, and Harry Phipps, formerly of Dagenham & Redbridge, adds grit and versatility across the back line and midfield, giving Morison dependable, battle-tested options in key areas.

In attack, Sutton have focused on injecting pace and creativity to refresh their forward line. Ashley Nadesan returns to Surrey bringing EFL pedigree and sharp movement to replace the goals of Will Davies, whose departure to Fleetwood brought a significant fee for the club. Alongside him, Jaiden White, fresh from a breakout season at Hereford, offers a direct, skilful threat from wide areas with his ability to beat defenders and strike from range. Adding to the attacking mix, David Ogbonna joins with a reputation for flair and goal-scoring from the flanks after productive spells at Slough Town and Hertford Town, offering unpredictability and energy in the final third.

Midfield reinforcements include Mo Dabre and Kane Crichlow, both bringing dynamism and technical quality. Dabre, likened to N’Golo Kanté for his relentless energy and defensive work rate, steps up from Tonbridge with National League South playoff experience, while Crichlow arrives from Chelmsford City having been joint-top scorer, adding creativity and a sharp eye for goal shaped by his time at Watford’s academy and the Spanish youth system. Completing the arrivals, Liam Vincent brings attacking threat and versatility from the left after a nine-goal campaign with Tonbridge, continuing his steady rise from Bromley’s academy and showcasing his ability to contribute in advanced wing-back roles.

This layered recruitment reflects Sutton’s shift to a data-led model, balancing the sale of key players with the acquisition of high-upside talent while maintaining competitiveness. The club’s strategy this summer indicates a clear intent: to evolve sustainably in the National League while remaining a team capable of challenging, underpinned by the hunger, energy, and technical quality of this new-look squad.

Signings and retained list

New signings: Aaron Jones (Aldershot), Jaiden White (Hereford), David Ogbonna (Slough Town), Mo Dabre (Tonbridge), Liam Vincent (Tonbridge), Kane Crichlow (Chelmsford City), Edon Pruti (Slough Town), Harry Phipps (Dagenham & Redbridge), Ashley Nadesan (Gillingham – re-signed after loan), Will Tizzard (Queen’s Park), David Aziaya (Bromley), Brandon Njoku (Cambridge United)
Retained: Jack Sims, Eduino Vaz, Hayden Muller, Jack Taylor, Junior Eccleston, Alex Kirk, Siju Odelusi, Lewis Simper, Jack Wadham, Jayden Harris, Alex Woodyard, Dillon De Silva, Nana Boateng, Henry Sandat

Departures

Departures: Tyler French (Solihull), Will Davies (Fleetwood)
Released: Josh Coley, Ryan Jackson, Steve Arnold, Sam Roberts, Matt Kerbey, Jack Rose, Jay Williams, Harry Ransom (Worthing), Vinnie Tume
Loans returned: Finley Barbrook, Besart Topallaj, Junior Robinson, Kain Adom

Fans’ Eye View: Where Will Sutton Finish This Season?

Sutton fans head into the new National League season feeling optimistic of improvement having applauded the club’s proactive summer rebuild under Steve Morison. The departure of key players like Will Davies and Tyler French has been offset by a layered recruitment strategy, bringing in young, upwardly mobile talent like David Aziaya, Ashley Nadesan, Will Tizzard and a host of promising wide options.

Supporters generally agree the defence looks significantly stronger on paper, with Jones, Phipps, Pruti and Tizzard adding leadership, athleticism and depth. There’s acknowledgement amongst the fanbase that last season’s campaign was littered with dropped points due to late defensive lapses, and there’s a belief that simply shoring up the back line could convert narrow defeats into valuable draws or wins. There’s a growing feeling that turning those frustrating dropped points into results could easily push Sutton into the playoff mix, even if goals scored remain at similar levels.

However, there is caution about overloading the squad with defenders, with concerns over potential departures of players like Jack Taylor or Hayden Muller to balance the books and ensure game time. Others acknowledge that while the backline looks solid, the left-back position (following Topallaj’s departure after his loan spell) and depth in goalkeeping remain question marks, with calls for a reliable backup or another experienced ‘keeper to push Aziaya.

Up front, while Nadesan’s return has generally been welcomed—particularly the potential to use him centrally where his goal threat was best showcased in previous spells—many feel another striker is needed. The discussion around the “need” for a 20-goal striker has divided opinion, with some seeing it as unrealistic at this level given budget constraints, while others argue for spreading goals across wingers, midfielders, and defenders to avoid over-reliance on a single player. There is hope that the influx of dynamic, pacy wide options, including Jaiden White and David Ogbonna, plus Liam Vincent’s goals from the left, can collectively replace Davies’ output, allowing for a more balanced attacking threat.

In midfield, the potential return of Jayden Harris is seen as “like a new signing” after his injury-hit campaign, but there are lingering concerns about creativity and the need for a potential additional midfielder, particularly if Simper departs.

The overall sentiment from the forum is that Sutton’s squad feels well ahead of schedule compared to many National League clubs, with most of the business completed before July. This, combined with a renewed focus on a data-led recruitment model, is extending the belief that the U’s will avoid last season’s inconsistency and push towards the top half. There’s acceptance that the National League will be even tougher this season, with fewer weak teams, but if the new signings settle quickly and injuries are kinder, a playoff challenge is not beyond reach.

The realistic consensus among fans seems to place Sutton finishing between 8th and 12th, with an outside chance of a playoff push if the defensive solidity translates into points and a consistent attacking output can be found. While some remain sceptical about predicting final positions before a ball is kicked, most agree the groundwork has been laid for a stable, competitive campaign—and there’s a quiet belief around Gander Green Lane that Sutton could surprise a few this season.