After eight years out of the Premier League, Sunderland return to the top flight putting a strong case forward to buck the trend of promoted sides immediately facing the drop.
Regis Le Bris has been afforded an influx of new personnel to compete with the Premier League’s ever more established core of clubs.
The most youthful squad in the Championship edged into the play-off spots despite their lacklustre run-in which was far from smooth sailing last season.
Dan Ballard’s last-minute extra-time header sent Sunderland fans wild against Coventry City to book their place in Wembley’s titanic final.
Sheffield United were cruising to victory before Sunderland’s enthralling comeback ensued in the second half and the contest culminated in a tense grandstand finish.
They scored two goals courtesy of Eliezer Mayenda and now Brighton player Tommy Watson to seal the victory.
Where Sunderland are now is intriguing since shrewd summer business perhaps sets them up better than those that have tried and failed in past top flight seasons.
Their curtain raiser against West Ham would be an opening fixture Sunderland will be optimistic to take three points from.
Consistency is always going to be the cornerstone that Regis Le Bris will have to hone in on, and the Premier League will present a more demanding task for those behind the scenes and the players.
Yet, their targets are by no means insurmountable, and from the onset with their revamped squad, they should be capable of putting up a commendable fight this campaign.
2024/25 Season Recap
Words by William Fortune
After Sunderland fell to a disappointing 16th place finish in 2023/24, Regis Le Bris switched France for England by leaving Lorient, tasked with helping the Black Cats bounce back. He did just that.
Following an eight-year absence from the top division of English football, the Northeast based side finally return.
Sunderland finished in 4th place, which is where they sat for most of the season.
They endured a scintillating start to the season only losing two from their first seventeen Championship games against Plymouth and Watford.
In fact, their best winning streak was at the start of the season with Le Bris' men taking 12 points from 12, in their opening four league games.
However, there was no luck in cup competitions as they were dumped out of the EFL Cup in Round One after being beaten 2-0 by Preston, and in Round Three of the FA Cup by Stoke.
Despite a bumpy patch of form at the end of the season, they had still done enough to secure a spot in the play-offs.
Sunderland lost five out of twelve of their league losses in their final five games of the season, meaning they were the most out of form side out of the four teams heading into the semi-finals.
They secured their first away win at Coventry City, who finished fifth in the league, since 1985 in the first leg, courtesy of Wilson Isidor and Mayenda’s strikes as the Spanish striker latched onto a Milan van Ewijk back pass.
Coventry equalised in the second leg making it 2-2 on aggregate and 1-0 in the match through an Ephron Mason-Clark goal.
But this wasn’t enough to send them back to Wembley, as Dan Ballard headed in from a corner in the dying stages of extra-time to send the Stadium of Light into raptures.
After falling behind in the final, with Tyrese Campbell scoring for Sheffield United, Sunderland had to come from behind this time instead of protecting their lead.
Watson scored the winner for his boyhood club in added time to make it 2-1 in his final appearance for the club.
Transfer Activity
Words by William Fortune
Since gaining their promotion back to the top flight in May, Sunderland have made a host of new signings to bolster the squad and the chances of **Regis Le Bris**’ men surviving.
The first body through the door was Enzo Le Fee in June making his loan move from Roma permanent for a fee of £20m.
Following him came a couple more midfielders in the form of Habib Diarra for a reported club record £30m deal from Strasbourg, and Noah Sadiki from Union Saint-Gilloise for a £15m fee.
The marquee signing to come through the door this summer was former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka for an undisclosed fee from Bayer Leverkusen.
In attacking areas, there have been three new additions. Young winger Chemsdine Talbi has arrived from Club Brugge while Simon Adingra has switched South England for North, arriving from Brighton.
Marc Guiu has arrived from Chelsea on a season-long loan after impressing in the Blues’ Conference League winning campaign.
Guiu bagged six goals in nine appearances in the competition, including three goals against Shamrock Rovers to become Chelsea’s second youngest player to score a hat-trick.
Defensive reinforcements include 31-year-old Reinildo Mandava, who can operate at centre-back and left-back, and former West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku.
Netherlands Under-21s goalkeeper Robin Roefs has arrived to provide Anthony Patterson with competition, and centre-back Omar Alderete has come in from Getafe for a deal worth £10m.
In terms of outgoings, five players have departed the Black Cats this summer.
Salis Abdul Samed’s season-long loan has expired, and he is now back at French club Lens. Adil Aouchiche has joined Aberdeen on a loan deal.
Goalkeeper Nathan Bishop has moved to AFC Wimbledon after making just two appearances during his time at Sunderland.
Jobe Bellingham has followed in Jude Bellingham's footsteps, completing a move to Borussia Dortmund for an initial £27m, while Tommy Watson has joined Brighton.
One to Watch - Chris Rigg
Words by Matthew Shotter
To Sunderland fans, 18-year-old Chris Rigg is already a household name, and one who is adored by the Stadium of Light faithful.
To Premier League fans who may not yet be aware of the youngster, you are about to get an introduction to a player who could well become an England international in the near future.
Rigg, born 10 miles away from Sunderland’s stadium, is a midfielder with an eye for goal and has impressed just about everyone since making his debut in January 2023 at the age of just 15.
Over the past two seasons in the Championship, he has amassed an impressive 63 appearances, all before turning 18 this summer.
The Sunderland number 11 has fast become a fan favourite, due to the mercurial talent he possesses, as well as the passion he exudes when wearing those famous red and white stripes, which is akin to that of any fan sitting in the stands.
He could be described as something of a box-to-box midfielder, popping up at both ends of the pitch. He is fantastic on the ball, often creating chances for teammates with his passing ability, as well as using his capacity to carry the ball forward with ease, ghosting past the opposition.
Not only that, but he is an excellent reader of the game, often cutting out opponents’ counter-attacks before they get started.
However, his best trait is one that cannot be coached, and that is his ability to lead. Despite his tender age, it is clear that Rigg is one of the leaders of the dressing room.
It takes a lot to be the standout teenager in a team that includes Jobe Bellingham, but many fans believe Chris Rigg did just that, before the former left for pastures new in Germany.
This could be a big season for Rigg, and should everything go to plan, it could be remembered as his breakout campaign before he hits the big time.
Strongest XI
Words by William Fortune
Roefs; Hume, Alderete, Mandava, Masuaku; Diarra, Xhaka, Le Fee; Talbi, Guiu, Adingra
There have been eleven new signings and five departures at the Stadium of Light this summer, meaning their starting lineup is likely to be very different to the one that started against Sheffield United in May to earn promotion.
Robin Roefs impressed last season at NEC Nijmegen as only two goalkeepers picked up more than his ten clean sheets, and will likely start the season between the sticks having played in pre-season due to **Anthony Patterson**’s injury.
At the back, Trai Hume will continue to operate at right-back, having featured 44 times last seasons, while the experience of DR Congo’s Arthur Masuaku may partner him on the other side of defence.
At the heart of defence, Reinildo could play alongside the latest signing of Omar Alderete. However, having not had a pre-season getting to work under Le Bris' system, he may have to work his way into the team.
Play-off winner Le Fee may keep his place in the midfield while Xhaka may even be made team captain.
Box-to-box midfielder and record signing, Habib Diarra, will likely partner them in midfield having grabbed the winner in Sunderland’s only pre-season win.
The 21-year-old should add bite to the midfield with his aggression and ball carrying.
The Black Cats are likely to have their two new men starting on the wings in Adingra and Talbi. Adingra previously shone in Roberto de Zerbi's system in 2023/24 at Brighton but struggled to adapt last term under Fabian Hürzeler.
There will be lots of competition up top to be the favoured number nine. Guiu may be favoured, having played in the top flight before, albeit in just three league appearances for Chelsea.
But Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda have both shown what they can do last season in the Championship. Will Le Bris trust them to step up?
Regis Le Bris: the right man with the right ideas to steer the ship?
Words by Sam Bunce
Prior to the new season, Sunderland announced that Regis Le Bris will be extending his stay at the club until summer 2028.
The Frenchman hit the ground running in the Championship, guiding his team to nine wins from his opening twelve matches and has since become a revelation.
Perhaps his job was hanging by a thread entering those closing stages at Wembley’s play-off final. Yet, Sunderland chiefs have promptly agreed a new contract for Le Bris following that historic victory.
The club have invested the funds earned from promotion directly into acquisitions that give the manager the tools necessary for his maiden Premier League season.
The three promoted sides from last season were at times persistent in their defined tactical styles, which proved costly and saw them slip from the pack, who eventually ascended out of sight.
Some have opted for soaking up pressure on a regular basis, some have been reluctant to budge from an in-possession attacking style, while others have pivoted dependent on opposition or found the happy medium.
Le Bris’ principal challenge is finding the right approach without neglecting the tendencies of his players that he has at his disposal.
His job may be on tenterhooks sooner rather than later if results are disappointing, and their pre-season results on paper look for grim reading.
Integrating new players will form a major part of recent outcomes; however, instilling a set approach equipped for the rigours of the Premier League is the task for the manager amid the imminent trials and tribulations.
Expectations
Words by Matthew Shotter
While Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League last season via the play-offs was not exactly a surprise, they were by no means the favourites to do so, and that is seen through the fact that many of the players who won the Black Cats promotion do not have much top-level experience.
And while manager Le Bris has attempted to address that potential lack of top flight experience with the signings of Xhaka and Reinildo Mandava, it cannot be ignored that the North East side had one of the youngest squads in the entire division last season, and a lot of those youngsters still remain.
So, it looks as though it will be a campaign looking to be the first promoted team in two seasons to avoid the immediate drop from the Premier League.
And, although their lack of experience has the potential to hold them back, it may well do the polar opposite and allow them to be slightly faster, stronger and hungrier than their opponents anticipate, meaning a shock run to the middle of the pack cannot be entirely ruled out.
As far as domestic cup competitions go, Sunderland have not won one since the 1973 FA Cup Final – if you do not count the 2021 Papa John’s Trophy-, where, as a second division team, they beat Don Revie’s Leeds United.
The side’s reclamation of top flight status may well embolden them to push forward and see if they can match their local rivals, Newcastle United, in putting to bed a long trophy drought.