**Regis Le Bris’** side welcome the Cottagers to the Stadium of Light on Sunday for _the Black Cats'_ first home game of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
How have both started the new season?
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Both sides suffered opening day defeats, Sunderland fell to a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich while Fulham lost 3-2 to Chelsea on **Alvaro Arbeloa's** first game in the Premier League.
From Sunderland club legends to memorable Derby moments, we take a look at five familiar faces who have featured for both sides.
**Andy Melville**
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The defender spent five years with Sunderland, arriving from Oxford United in 1993 for £500,000 with **Anton Rogan** joining the Yellows as part of the deal.
Shortly after his arrival, the defender was involved in a car crash alongside teammates **Derek Ferguson**, **Phil Gray** and **Ian Rodgerson**.
Despite the crash, Melville recovered quickest and made his debut in a 5-0 defeat to Derby County.
Melville made 236 appearances during his stint with Sunderland, helping the Black Cats win the First Division in both 1996 and 1999.
Melville, like others on the list, swapped Sunderland for Fulham. The Welsh international made over 150 appearances for Fulham before leaving in 2004 for West Ham.
**Kevin Ball**
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Ball is a cult hero on Wearside and is still involved with the club now, most recently helping launch the 2026-27 home shirt.
The midfielder arrived at Sunderland in the summer of 1990, registering just shy of 400 appearances in his nine-and-a-half-year stay at the club.
Ball captained the side to two promotions back to the top flight, leading the team to a record-breaking 105-point title win in the 1998-99 campaign.
Aged 35, Ball moved from _the Black Cats_ to Fulham in January 2000, making 20 appearances as _the Cottagers_ finished ninth in the First Division.
Burnley then signed the tough-tackling hard man, where he spent the final two years of his playing career before retiring.
The fan favourite has returned to Sunderland in different roles since his retirement, including two caretaker manager roles in 2006 and 2013.
Ball was awarded Freedom of the City in July 2024 for his commitment to the city.
**Steed Malbranque**
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Malbranque is the only player on the list who played for Sunderland after Fulham.
The midfielder arrived in England, joining the West London club for £4.5 million from Lyon.
The Frenchman played 211 times for _the Cottagers_, scoring 44 goals and providing 28 assists. Malbranque scored five of his goals against Manchester City, including a 90th-minute winner at the Etihad.
After leaving Fulham for Spurs, Malbranque joined Sunderland in 2008 for £5 million.
The midfielder became an instant hit on Wearside for his work rate and skill and soon gained his own chant to the tune of _Que Sera, Sera_.
After making over 100 appearances, Malbranque returned to France to join Saint-Étienne.
**Kieran Richardson**
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In 2007, Sunderland paid Manchester United £5.5 million for Richardson, who was 22 at the time. The youngster linked up with former United teammate **Roy Keane,** in the Ireland international's second season in charge on Wearside.
The winger went on to make 149 appearances, scoring 15 goals, including a stunning free-kick which proved to be the winner in the Wear-Tyne Derby in 2008.
Richardson showed his versatility in Red and White, playing out on the wing, in midfield and at left-back.
The former England international swapped Sunderland for _the Cottagers_ on Deadline Day in 2012 for a fee reported to be around £2 million.
Richardson scored six times and registered three assists during his two seasons in West London, as Fulham suffered relegation to the Championship.
**Darren Bent**
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Now a talkSPORT presenter, Bent arrived at Sunderland in July 2009 for a club record fee of an initial £10 million.
The striker scored 36 goals in 63 games on Wearside and finished third in the goalscoring charts during the 2009-10 Premier League season with only **Didier Drogba** and **Wayne Rooney** scoring more.
The forward is remembered not only for his goalscoring numbers at the club, but one goal in particular. Bent struck in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool, with his strike deflecting off a beach ball to beat **Pepe Reina**.
Bent left on a sour note in January 2011, handing in a transfer request to force a move to Aston Villa, leaving the club for £18 million.
In the summer of 2013, Bent completed a loan move from Villa to Fulham but was unable to help them avoid relegation, scoring just three Premier League goals.
Bent came back to haunt Sunderland years later, the forward returned to the Stadium of Light in April 2018, scoring the equaliser as Sunderland lost to Burton Albion, dropping to the third tier of English football.