The big Sunderland selection debate after Everton draw
Sunderland completed a transformative summer transfer window as the Black Cats prepared to return to the Premier League.
Sunderland’s stunning start to life back in the Premier League has its roots in what was a highly ambitious recruitment drive during the summer transfer window.
The celebrations caused by the dramatic Championship play-off final win against Sheffield United were still ongoing by the time the first moves of the transfer window were confirmed as loan star Enzo Le Fee was secured in a club record £20m permanent move and Tommy Watson and Jobe Bellingham formally completed moves to Brighton and Hove Albion and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
What followed will go down in Black Cats folklore as Sunderland secured some eye-catching additions to their promotion-winning squad that have helped lay the foundations for a fine opening three months to the season. There were changes from back to front as the transfer record set by the permanent deal for Le Fee was broken within a fortnight as the Black Cats agreed to pay £30m for Strasbourg’s highly-rated midfielder Habib Diarra. Perhaps the most high-profile addition came when former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was snapped up from Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen and the Swiss international has wasted little time in making an impact at the Stadium of Light.
Netherlands goalkeeper Robin Roefs, Union Saint-Gilloise midfielder Noah Sadiki and defensive duo Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete have also shown signs they are already shrewd additions. The spending continued up until the final hours of the window as Brian Brobbey and Bertrand Traore joined from Ajax and Lutsharel Geertruida was secured in a loan deal from RB Leipzig that could be converted into a permanent switch.
Sunderland were not the highest spenders in the Premier League as the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool lavished hundreds of millions of pounds on squad already bulging with talent - but there is no doubt Sunderland went above and beyond to give themselves a chance of impressing on their long-awaited return to the top flight. But how does their transfer net spend compare their rivals across the Premier League?
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone.Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.
How does Sunderland’s 2025/26 net spend compare to their Premier League rivals?
Arsenal predicted line-up vs. Slavia Prague: Four changes with Gyökeres among seven who could miss outplaceholder image
Arsenal predicted line-up vs. Slavia Prague: Four changes with Gyökeres among seven who could miss out | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal - £251.4m Liverpool - £235.0m Manchester United - £166.9m Tottenham Hotspur - £137.8m Everton - £116.0m Sunderland - £113.4m Newcastle United - £95.6m Nottingham Forest - £95.4m Leeds United - £91.5m Manchester City - £80.2m West Ham United - £69.7m Burnley - £57.8m Fulham - £18.93m Chelsea - £9.5m Aston Villa - £8.0m Wolverhampton Wanderers - £14.7m Crystal Palace - £23.0m Brentford - £58.9m Bournemouth - £63.3m Brighton and Hove Albion - £68.15m
Continue Reading