"In the last five years, I've gone from the Irish League to the Premier League."
It is safe to say that Trai Hume's star has risen in recent years. Still only 24, the Ballymena native has progressed from breaking through in the Irish Premiership to becoming a key figure for Sunderland and wearing the captain's armband for Northern Ireland.
Having come through the Ballymena United academy, Hume became one of Northern Ireland's most promising young talents at Linfield before making the move to Sunderland in 2022.
Now a mainstay in the Black Cats line-up, he has featured in all 37 of their Premier League matches this season, playing a pivotal role as the Wearsiders chase down a European spot.
The accolades have followed.
Named Sunderland's 2024-25 player of the season, Hume was recently awarded the Northern Ireland Football Association Writers' International Player of the Year.
"Ever since I didn't go across the water at 16 and worked my way through the Irish League with Ballymena and Linfield, I think it's been a whirlwind of a journey," Hume told BBC Sport NI after the ceremony.
"In the last five years, I've went from the Irish League to the Premier League.
"When you think of it that way, it sounds a bit crazy, but it's just part of the journey that I've been on."
Sunderland 'pushing every day to get better'
Since swapping the Linfield blue for the red and white of Sunderland, Hume has embedded himself as a key figure at the Stadium of Light.
The defender played a crucial role in the club's promotion to the Premier League before signing a new five-year deal at the club in 2025.
This season, he has been a defensive mainstay alongsideNorthern Ireland team-mate Dan Ballard and has chipped in with a goal and an assist.
"We had a job at the start of the season to stay up, and we've done that," he continued.
"We're not far off the European spot, but we're just pushing every day to get better and improve.
"If we can get up there at the end of the season, then it's something that we can be proud of. "
At international level, Hume's development has coincided with the rise of other younger talents such as Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Crystal Palace's Justin Devenny.
Despite missing out on a World Cup spot after being beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Italy, Hume added that it is an exciting time for the youthful squad.
"We're obviously disappointed off the back of the Italy game, but we're a young side and we're only going to get better and improve with playing top nations that we have been in the last couple of years," he added.
"I think obviously we're disappointed about the game, but we'll learn from it and come back, and we'll obviously get better and better."
