Several Sunderland players have made temporary moves away from the Stadium of Light over the last two transfer windows.
Sunderland’s incoming transfer business has caught the eye over the last two transfer windows as Regis Le Bris’ squad has been boosted in what has become a successful bid to preserve the Black Cats’ Premier League status.
The likes of Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs and Brian Brobbey have all established themselves as firm favourites with the Stadium of Light faithful after making summer moves to Wearside. However, there has also been a need to move on a whole host of players and although the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson made permanent switches away from Sunderland, there are a whole host of players that have been sent out on loan for various reasons.
Some are gaining invaluable first team experience, some are looking to regain full match fitness, others moved in search of regular game-time and some failed to attract sufficient interest from clubs willing to secure permanent deals and had to settle for a temporary switch away from Wearside. But how are current Sunderland players faring during their loan spells elsewhere this season?
How have Sunderland players fared during loan spells this season?
Sunderland winger Simon Adingraplaceholder image
Sunderland winger Simon Adingra | AFP via Getty Images
Simon Adingra - Monaco
The summer signing was a somewhat surprise departure from Sunderland during the January transfer window as he joined Monaco on loan for the rest of the season. The winger has scored three goals in 10 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit and featured in both legs of their Champions League play-off round tie with league rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
Anthony Patterson - Millwall
The Academy of Light product was reunited with former Black Cats boss Alex Neil when he joined the Lions in January and has kept three clean sheets in seven appearances so far. He has established himself as Neil’s first-choice stopper as his side challenge for promotion into the Premier League.
Dan Neil - Ipswich Town
Another Academy of Light graduate seeing out the season in the Championship, Neil’s departure from his boyhood club was confirmed when he joined the Tractor Boys. Neil has now made ten appearances for Kieran McKenna’s side and there has been speculation that could become a permanent switch when Neil’s Black Cats contract expires at the end of the season.
Jenson Seelt - Wolfsburg
The Dutch defender joined Wolfsburg on a season-long loan in the final days of the summer transfer window and has made ten appearances in all competitions this season. However, a knee injury and an illness has limited the impact he has made over the last three months.
Arthur Masuaku - Lens
Another summer signing spending the second half of the season in France, Masuaku has made just two appearances for Lens and just one of those came in Ligue 1. Bizarrely, the former West Ham man was handed a red card during the warm-up ahead of his side’s Coupe de France quarter-final tie with Lyon last month.
Timothee Pembele - Le Havre
Pembele still has over a year left on his current Sunderland deal - but he is also spending the final months of the season in France with Le Havre. The full-back has made seven appearances for his temporary employers after joining them during the January transfer window.
Leo Hjelde - Sheffield United
The Norway Under-21 international has suffered something of an injury nightmare in recent months - but his recovery is being played out at Sheffield United and Hjelde has made five Championship appearances for the Blades since joining in January.
Alan Browne - Middlesbrough
The experienced midfielder joined Boro on loan during the summer transfer window and has become a key part of the side pushing for promotion into the Premier League this season. As it stands, Browne has made 33 appearances in all competitions, contributing four goals and one assist for Kim Hellberg’s side.
Aji Alese - Portsmouth
Alese joined the Championship relegation contenders in January but made just one substitute appearance after picking up a serious groin injury during their 1-0 defeat against Preston North End in February.
Zak Johnson - York City
The highly-rated defender joined York on loan in November and is hoping to help the Minstermen secure promotion into the EFL between now and the end of the season. Johnson has already made 20 appearances for City and scored his first goal in a 3-0 win at Wealdstone in February.
Luis Semedo - Morierense
The Portugal youth international has scored two goals in 16 appearances for his loan club after finding the net in draws with Estoril and Nacional. He has been in and out of the Morierense starting eleven after nine of his 18 league appearances came from the bench.
Milan Aleksic - Cracovia
The Croatian midfielder moved to Poland during the January transfer window and has provided two assists in eight appearances for Cracovia.
Niall Huggins - Wycombe Wanderers
The full-back joined the Chairboys on a season-long deal in August and has suffered mixed fortunes during his time at Adams Park. Huggins has made 20 appearances for Wanderers - but just seven have come as part of their starting eleven.
Nazariy Rusyn - Arka Gdynia
The 27-year-old striker joined Polish side Arka Gdynia in the final hours of the summer transfer window in his second loan spell away from Wearside. Since making the move, Rusyn has scored four goals in 21 league and cup appearances for his temporary employers.
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