It’s been a while since the days of enduring a Sunderland transfer window where we were littered with free transfers and 34-year-old veterans.
I will take you back five years ago to the Black Cats’ first season in League One. The club needed immediate promotion back to the second tier and so we signed the likes of Grant Leadbitter, Glenn Loovens and Dylan McGeouch.
In fact, the only money we spent was on Will Grigg, Charlie Wyke and Jack Baldwin for a combined total of around £5 million. Most of which was spent on five-goal Grigg.
However, transfer windows have become a lot more enjoyable since Kyril-Louis Dreyfus arrived on Wearside two years ago.
The Black Cats invest in youth, spend little and develop young prospects into wonderfully talented players. While it was a stressful few weeks prior to deadline day, Sunderland continued their transfer policy this summer and signed some very exciting youngsters.
Some have kickstarted their career here brilliantly, while some are yet to be given a proper chance.
Here is how we rank Sunderland’s summer signings…
11. Nectarios Triantis
This will be a regular theme for a number of these players, but it is quite hard to rank the Australian based on one start against Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup.
Triantis was clearly highly regarded for Central Coast Mariners as he helped them win the 2023 A-League Men Grand Final prior to his move to England, however that was never going to translate straight over to the Championship.
The 20-year-old may get his chance eventually, but it is difficult to see where. It would take a lot to budge Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard from their perches, while I would still tip Tony Mowbray to select Jenson Seelt or Aji Alese over Triantis.
I can see the centre-back going on loan soon enough and I would be surprised if he manages to make his mark on the senior team anytime soon.
10. Nathan Bishop
Nathan Bishop is a player that was always going to struggle for game time at Sunderland.
The goalkeeper realised a number one spot at Manchester United was even less likely and made the move to Wearside, however it would take a major injury for him to displace Anthony Patterson in the starting line-up.
The Red Devils clearly saw something in Bishop, but it is difficult to see him as anything but a back-up who will only feature in the Black Cats’ brief cup runs.
9. Bradley Dack
I was all on board the Bradley Dack train when we signed him on a free transfer, however he has done nothing but frustrate me since.
The midfielder would have been a very good signing if he avoided injury and could get back to the football he played previously under Tony Mowbray, but it hasn’t gone as planned.
This certainly isn’t his fault, but Mowbray’s decision to play him out of position – and start him when he clearly wasn’t fully fit – made his performances rather underwhelming.
He has now been sidelined for over a month and it is hard to see him getting back into the line-up.
However, I do think Dack will play his part in the second half of the campaign as the games rack up and he could chip in with some key goals and assists. If he is played behind a striker we could see a different side to him.
8. Luis Hemir Semedo
This arguably seemed one of the more exciting transfers after a brilliant pre-season for Hemir, however he has been far from impressive since making his Championship debut against Ipswich Town.
In his defence, the striker hasn’t been given many chances at all. However, he looks off the pace and seems to avoid running as much as he can when on the pitch.
I still predict Hemir to come good at some point though as we can’t expect too much in his first campaign. I expect huge improvement with next summer’s pre-season under his belt.
7. Eliezer Mayenda
This may be a bit kind to Eliezer Mayenda considering he hasn’t stepped foot on a football pitch for Sunderland yet, however I am very excited about this signing.
The forward is meant to be one of the Black Cats’ more promising arrivals and Mowbray has sounded pretty amazed by his performances in training.
I think we can expect big things from Mayenda once he works his way into the team.
6. Jenson Seelt
Jenson Seelt is another young defender that has a huge task on his hands if he is to force his way into the team.
However, the Dutchman was handed an opportunity to impress following Niall Huggins’ injury against Middlesbrough and I was actually pleasantly surprised.
Seelt had only made one appearance for Sunderland prior to that and he was thrown into a very intense situation and also was made to play out of position.
While we did concede four goals, I thought Seelt showed a lot of promise and looked very composed on the ball.
He could be a big player for Sunderland if someone like Ballard picks up another injury, or worse, is sold.
5. Timothee Pembele
Another signing that is yet to play or even leave the treatment table is Timothee Pembele.
While I won’t lie and say I have seen a lot of Pembele’s football, the talk around him is still very exciting.
The 21-year-old made 13 appearances for PSG and also featured in the Champions League, while he has been mentored by the likes of Presnel Kimpembe and Achraf Hakimi.
While fans are certainly very happy with Trai Hume in the backline, Pembele will provide great competition for him and I can see him becoming a big player for the Black Cats.
4. Mason Burstow
Mason Burstow has already received a lot of criticism from fans for not scoring, but I have actually really liked him.
The striker has already really grown since joining the club on loan from Chelsea and he has been very important away from the goal, creating chances and using his strength very well. His exceptional turn that led to a penalty against Sheffield Wednesday is the perfect example.
I actually think Burstow would score plenty of goals if we set up for that. I don’t think the youngster does much wrong, but rather we rarely actually get the ball to him. He makes the runs but it is like we have been so used to playing without a No.9 that we work the ball into the box in other ways.
I think Burstow will find his feet and score some important goals for us once he finally gets off the mark. Fans shouldn’t be so harsh on him.
3. Nazariy Rusyn
Nazariy Rusyn is a player we chased for months, so he better be good.
The Ukrainian hasn’t featured much for Sunderland yet but he has shown glimpses of hope and looked very promising for the U-21 side last month.
Rusyn looks like he can play anywhere against the front three and could be a really valuable player for us, while he will undoubtedly add the goals that we seem to be relying on Jack Clarke for.
2. Adil Aouchiche
Adil Aouchiche has been the most impressive of the relatively ‘unknown’ players we have signed this summer.
The Frenchman is yet to make his first start in the Championship but has been one of the best players on the pitch when he has come on and there is no doubt that he will be hard to replace in the line-up once he makes it in.
Once Aouchiche gets used to the pace of English football and has settled in, I can see him being an absolute beast for Sunderland.
1. Jobe Bellingham
Anyone who doesn’t think Jobe has been Sunderland’s best summer signing is just completely wrong.
The teenager arrived with high expectations because of his brother Jude, but he has come into his own and has been sensational.
It was thought that he would be rotated in and out of the squad because of his lack of experience, but he simply can’t be dropped.
He gets forward, he defends, he passes brilliantly. He is the full package and it is extremely hard to believe that he only turned 18 years old last month.