Robbin Ruiter has hailed Sunderland as “truly a people’s club”, admitting he loved his time there.

Utrecht Fans cover an interview with the goalkeeper today in which he’s full of praise for the Black Cats.

The goalkeeper joined Sunderland on a free transfer from Utrecht in 2017. He had previously spent five years with the Dutch club.

Ruiter would spend two years at the North East but only made 28 appearances in total for them during that time. those numbers suggest his time at the club was not a particularly great one, particularly as that season saw Sunderland relegated to League One after finishing 24^th in the Championship.

He has noting but positives to say about the spell, though. One thing he was particularly impressed by, was the passion of Sunderland’s fans.

“Wouldn’t have traded that experience for anything,” De Ruiter said to Café Galgenwaard.

“I had a truly fantastic time at FC Utrecht, and that was also my best period in terms of sport, but the international adventure always appealed. I was very close to a move to Norwich City, and then I finally went to Sunderland. What a club.

“The experience in England is much greater than...