Sunderland supporters have taken to social media to discuss the greatest loan signing within the Black Cats’ recent history.
‘Never fall in love with a loan player’ is the footballing adage so often used in the modern game. Short-term signings can provide football fans such joy in the moment, but there is always the tinge of disappointment to caveat that elation, as supporters are aware these players are not permanent squad members.
Sunderland are no strangers to recruiting supreme talents on short loan deals, and Sunderland supporters have been debating who their number one loan signing is of the Stadium of Light era.
Some of which include; a Champions League and Club World Cup winner, a former Inter Milan star and a 3-time Premier League Champion.
Sunderland fans debate contenders for best-ever loan signing
Jonny Evans
Starting with the loan signing defenders, 107-time capped Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans may have only joined Sunderland on loan from Manchester United for half a season initially but made an immense impact.
With Roy Keane at the helm, Evans featured 18 times for the Black Cats in the 2006-07 season, winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award as he played a pivotal role in helping Sunderland clinch the Championship trophy.
Evans would ultimately rejoin Sunderland for a second spell the following season thanks to Red Devils legend Keane’s efforts, and made a further 15 appearances for the Black Cats as they avoided relegation.
One Sunderland fan wrote: “Jonny Evans, unreal twice, and massively improved us”
Marcos Alonso
Real Madrid academy graduate Marcos Alonso is another example of Sunderland loan defender royalty. The Spaniard joined the Black Cats under Gus Poyet in the 2013 January window, and made his debut in a man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United as Sunderland won 2-1 in the League Cup semi-final first-leg.
The left-back – who featured 2- times on loan at Wearside – started Sunderland’s League Cup final against Manchester City, in which Sunderland were beaten 3-1 by City at Wembley.
Alonso holds a plethora of domestic winners medals in his trophy cabinet, and his quality on the ball was clear for all Sunderland fans to see, and remains one of the highest calibre full-backs to ever don the red-and-white stripes.
As such, one Sunderland fan stated: “Alonso, the fact he went on to be one of the best left-backs globally, helped us avoid relegation, and to a final. Winner”.
Danny Rose
The season prior to Alonso’s arrival, Sunderland fans were treated to another loanee left-back in Spurs’ Danny Rose, who was equally impressive during his stint with the Black Cats.
Rose arrived from the London outfit under then-Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill, and made his debut in a 1-1 home stalemate against Liverpool. Englishman Rose went on to make 29 appearances for Sunderland and was named the Black Cats’ young player of the season, in one of his most impressive campaigns across his 301-game career.
The left-back’s athleticism and ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively made was imperative to help Sunderland avoid relegation by just three points.
One Sunderland fan simply argued ‘Danny Rose’ to which another fan replied ‘Top class full-back’.
Yann M’Vila
French midfield maestro Yann M’Vila’s short stay at Sunderland – which fans hoped would’ve been made permanent – was certainly a rollercoaster of emotions for the star and supporters.
Former Inter Milan central-midfielder M’Vila arrived on loan from Russian outfit Rubin Kazan for the 2015-16 season, with a view to the deal being made permanent, and was given a straight red for a head-butt on Norwich’s Jamar Loza during his debut.
Fortunes quickly turned for the Frenchman, who was named man-of-the-match in a historic 3-0 victory at arch-rivals Newcastle under Sam Allardyce, in which M’Vila described the atmosphere of the Tyne-Wear derby as eclipsing that of the Milan derby.
After revealing his desire to stay, M’Vila went on to feature 40 times for Sunderland, including the club’s infamous 3-2 home comeback over Chelsea and 3-0 victory over Everton which secured Premier League survival for Big Sam’s side.
Former chairman Ellis Short subsequently rejected the chance to sign M’Vila permanently, leading M’Vila on deadline day of August 2016 to post on social media: “I called Sunderland but they are not picking up the phone why? My heart has broken”.
A revelation and a missed opportunity to sign a midfielder who oozed class and quality which broke the hearts of the Sunderland faithful, as well as M’Vila.
Fabio Borini
Former Sunderland forward Fabio Borini’s first season at Sunderland was on-loan from Liverpool, and would score some crucial goals for the Black Cats during the 2013-14 season, one of which is etched into club folklore forever.
Borini featured 32 times under three different managers during his debut season at Sunderland, firing a late equaliser in the League Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, and assisting Ki Sung-Yeung’s dramatic late winner.
Borini then scored Sunderland’s winner from the penalty spot against the Red Devils in the next round, before his magic moment to open the scoring at Wembley against City which sent the travelling Sunderland supporters into raptures.
Borini was named Sunderland’s young player of the season after taking his tally to seven for that campaign, to help stave off relegation, and gave the Black Cats faithful a moment to remember forever despite the City cup final defeat.
Manchester United star Amad Diallo is the best loan signing in Sunderland history
Despite the litany of loan talent Sunderland have possessed in the Stadium of Light era, there can only be one temporary signing to claim the ‘best ever’ accolade, Manchester United star Amad Diallo.
Red Devils youngster Diallo arrived on Wearside with Tony Mowbray at the helm and would go on to set the second tier alight, with a plethora of magical moments that got Sunderland supporters off their seats in awe.
Diallo – who enjoyed an immense partnership with winger Patrick Roberts – notched 14 goals and four assists as Diallo’s dazzling displays spearheaded Sunderland’s promotion attempt.
| Key statistics | Amad Diallo at Sunderland during 2022-23 season |
| League games played | 39 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Successful dribbles | 62 |
| Pass accuracy | 86% |
| Successful passes | 1,144 |
| Long ball accuracy | 79% |
His tricky footwork and technical prowess combined with his long-range strikers – culminating with the play-off semi-final free-kick against Luton – made Sunderland fans genuinely wonder how they managed to possess such a superstar.
Sunderland fans were desperate for their superstar to return, but Diallo has cemented himself as one of the Red Devils’ shining lights with big game performances, of which Sunderland fans knew Diallo was always capable of.
Diallo himself was equally enamoured with the fanbase, who showered the Ivorian international with adoration for the first time in his career, and is the loanee rightly remembered as the best to ever grace the Stadium of Light after his star-dusted Sunderland stint.
As one Sunderland fan also argued: “It’s hard to go past Amad because he had (and still does) a genuine love for our club and fans.”, as another agreed: “Amad every single day of the week.”
If Sunderland one day soon returns to the Premier League promised land, who knows whether an emotional return will come to fruition.