Former Sunderland striker Fabio Borini played for the Black Cats between 2015 and 2018, earning cult status for a stunning strike against Newcastle United.
Fabio Borini, now 33 years old, has played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs during his career, with all of Chelsea, Liverpool, Roma and AC Milan on his footballing CV.
The Italian striker played for Sunderland between 2013 and 2018, initially joining on loan but then joining on a permanent deal in the summer of 2015.
Reports at the time claimed Sunderland paid Liverpool £8million for Borini, who in 93 total appearances for the Black Cats score 13 goals and assisted five more.
In 2017, Sunderland suffered the first of two-straight relegations. Borini left to join AC Milan on loan that summer, then joining the club on a permanent deal at the end of that season.
In his career so far, Borini has won both the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea in the 2009/10 season, also being part of the Sunderland side that reached the final of the League Cup in 2014.
What is former Sunderland striker Fabio Borini up to these days?
Borini spent two years with AC where he managed just the two league goals. In 2020 he moved to fellow Italian side Hellas Verona for a brief spell, before moving to Turkey where he’d enjoy the most prolific spell of his career to date.
The striker joined then Turkish Super Lig side Fatih Karagümrük and in three years made 75 appearances, scoring 36 goals and making 16 assists, then returning back to Italy last summer.
Borini joined Sampdoria in Serie B and scored nine league goals in the 2023/24 season as Sampdoria finished in 7th, though in four Serie B games this season, one-cap former Italian international Borini is yet to score.
- READ MORE: Ruben Amorim’s January transfer plans at Man Utd point to one outcome for Sunderland’s Chris Rigg
Fabio Borini’s goal for Sunderland vs Newcastle United in 2013
The 2013/14 season in the Premier League was a struggle for Sunderland who eventually finished in 14th under Gus Poyet.
And the Black Cats’ first win of the season came against north-east rivals Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.
Borini came off the bench and lashed home a fierce strike from 20 yards, giving Sunderland a win which lifted them off the bottom of the Premier League table, and giving fans a memory for life.
Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side now sit in 1st place of the Championship table, with their next fixture away at Millwall later in November.