Sunderland Detailed Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Sunderland Finish Last Season?

The 2024/25 season saw Sunderland make their return to the Premier League in the most spectacular fashion after an eight year absence from the top flight. Though they couldn’t keep pace with Burnley, Leeds or Sheffield United in the regular season, their form was more than good enough to easily earn them a spot in the play-offs.

From there, it was drama all the way to the finish line - the Black Cats faced Derby in the play-off semi-finals, a side who had been arguably the league's best team since Frank Lampard took the helm in November of last year. However, late first leg brilliance from Wilson Isidor saw Sunderland take a 2-1 lead into the second leg, which was held at their home ground, the Stadium of Light. Despite an Ephron Mason-Clark equaliser to take the game to extra time, Regis Le Bris’ side were not phased, and got their just reward two minutes after the game was supposed to have ended, when Dan Ballard headed home in the 122nd minute. Queue absolute scenes.

Facing Sheffield United in the final, Sunderland were for the most part outclassed - goalkeeper Anthony Patterson had to pull off a couple of stunning saves to keep the deficit to one after Tyrese Campbell had given the Blades a lead in the 25th minute, and they couldn’t create any chances of their own. However, Iliezer Mayenda’s fabulous finish 15 minutes from time brought things level, and a stunning 90+5 finish from the soon departing Tom Watson completed the staggering turnaround, ensuring that Sunderland would be playing Premier League football in 2025/26.

Best Result: Sunderland 4-0 Sheffield Wed (Cirkin 11’, Mayenda 15’, 47’, O’Nien 24’)

Worst Result: Coventry 3-0 Sunderland (Wright 21’, 29’p, 73’)

Who Have Sunderland Signed in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Habib Diarra from RC Strasbourg Alsace - £30 Million

🚨🔴⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland agree deal to sign Habib Diarra as new midfielder from RC Strasbourg, here we go!

Understand agreement has been reached tonight between clubs for €35.5m package add-ons included.

Sell-on clause also included and medical tests booked. #SAFC 💣 pic.twitter.com/3MTiBqhmc1

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2025

Enzo Le Fee from AS Roma - Loan made permanent for £20 Million

Simon Adingra from Brighton - £18 Million +£2.5 Million Add Ons

Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge - £16.5 Million + £2.5 Million Add Ons

Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen - £13 Million + £4 Million Add Ons

Noah Sadiki from Union Saint Gilloise - £14.7 Million + 2.5 Million Add Ons

Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen - £9 Million + £2.5 Million Add Ons

Reinildo Mandava from Atletico Madrid - Free Transfer

Marc Guiu from Chelsea - Season long loan

Who Have Sunderland Sold in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund - £27.8 Million

Tom Watson to Brighton - £10 Million

Nathan Bishop to AFC Wimbledon - Undisclosed Fee

Matty Young to Salford City - Season long loan

Salis Abdul Samid to RC Lens - End of Loan

Sunderland 2025/26 Squad List

Goalkeepers: Anthony Patterson, Robin Roefs, Simon Moore.

Defenders: Reinildo Mandava, Timothee Pembele, Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin, Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien, Jenson Seelt, Trai Hume, Leo Hjelde, Ajibola Alese, Joseph Anderson.

Midfielders: Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Granit Xhaka, Nectarios Triantis, Noah Sadiki, Pierre Ekwah, Daniel Neil, Alan Browne, Chris Rigg, Harrison Jones.

Attackers: Abdoullah Ba, Chemsdine Talbi, Marc Guiu, Simon Adingra, Patrick Roberts, Eliezer Mayenda, Romaine Mundle, Wilson Isidor, Milan Aleksic, Ian Poveda.

Sunderland 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Sunderland have dropped their new home shirt for the upcoming season in the Premier League. 🐈‍⬛

Rate it out of 10? pic.twitter.com/gL91XkGU0f

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 24, 2025

This is the new Sunderland AFC 25/26 Away kit by Hummel, the first to be unveiled ahead of the club’s return to the Premier League.

Inspired by the 1989 to 1991 away shirt worn by Marco Gabbiadini and Eric Gates, the new design connects to Sunderland’s maritime identity.#safc pic.twitter.com/gpjS0CJs0M

— Football Shirt Culture (@footballshirt) July 3, 2025

No third kit confirmed

What is Sunderland’s First Premier League Fixture?

Sunderland vs West Ham United | The Stadium of Light, Sunderland | Saturday, August 16th, 15:00

How Can I Watch Sunderland vs West Ham?

As of the time of writing, Sunderland’s opening fixture of the season is not scheduled to be shown on Sky Sports or TNT Sports. However, other broadcasters will be screening the match, such as Supersport.

What Are Sunderland’s Opening Five Games?

Sunderland vs West Ham United - Saturday, August 16th.

Burnley vs Sunderland - Saturday, August 23rd.

Sunderland vs Brentford - Saturday, August 30th.

Crystal Palace vs Sunderland - Saturday, September 13th.

Sunderland vs Aston Villa - Sunday, September 21st.

When Do Sunderland Play Rivals Newcastle United in 2025/26?

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League sees the revival of the Tyneside Derby, one of the most infamous in England’s top flight. With just 12 miles separating the two sides, animosity is guaranteed, and with a history of fiery meetings dating all the way back to the 1890’s, there is no shortage of history in this fixture.

Sunderland vs Newcastle United - Early December, TBC.

Newcastle United vs Sunderland - Late March, TBC.

Last Five Meetings:

- 06/01/2024: Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle United.

- 20/03/2016: Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland.

- 25/10/2015: Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle United.

- 05/04/2015: Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle United.

- 21/12/2014: Newcastle United 0-1 Sunderland.

Who is Sunderland’s Manager for 2025/26?

‘We won’t play like Guardiola or De Zerbi, because we are Sunderland and I’m Régis Le Bris’ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HHPJZNqqbK

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 25, 2025

At the end of the 2023/24 season, after seven years of mediocrity, the boardroom at the Stadium of Light was getting impatient - the longer this period of stagnation went on, the less likely that the club could work their way back up to the top flight, simple as that. So, the owners took a leap.

Caretaker coach Mike Dodds, who had been in charge of first team affairs since February, was replaced by French manager Regis Le Bris, who had been poached from French club Lorient. Despite recent relegation from Ligue 1, Le Bris was highly rated, and showed exactly why in his month in charge, maintaining a 100% record in their first four matches, scoring 10 and conceding just one in the process. Despite a mid-season slump, the Sunderland board deviated from the norm, and backed their manager instead of sacking him mid-season, as had happened twice the year previously. Their trust was rewarded.

Le Bris guided them to the most dramatic of promotions, and earned more than a few fans in the process. Starting out with a three at the back formation, he transitioned to a 4-4-2 set up when form took a turn for the worse, and it was this formation that carried them past Coventry and Sheffield United in the play-offs. An adaptable manager that is willing to stray out of his comfort zone is exactly what a newly promoted side needs. Le Bris may get it wrong at times, but if he sees something wrong on the field, he certainly won’t let it fester.

Who is Sunderland’s Player to Watch?

Trai Hume

Sunderland’s most consistent player by a wide margin last season, Trai Hume well and truly announced himself to the English football scene last season, He had always been touted as an excellent talent, but was yet to produce the number which would validate his ability. Last season changed all that, and suddenly, Hume has earned a reputation, and with it, a fair bit of transfer interest.

Oh WOW! 🤯

Trai Hume scores a remarkable free-kick for Sunderland 🔴 pic.twitter.com/krKmVnTXe8

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 5, 2025

Scoring three times and assisting six more in 47 Championship games last season, Hume proved pivotal in both attack and defence. His quality of cross caused opponents all sorts of problems in their own penalty area, while his dead ball striking put the ball on a postage stamp more often than not. But it’s his all-round ability that impresses me most - ranking in the clubs top three players for blocks, interceptions and clearances per 90, Hume proved he is more than just an attacking full back who can’t defend.

Unfortunately for Sunderland, we are not the only ones to pick up on his talent. Since the beginning of the transfer window, various clubs have been linked with a move for the Northern Irishman, including Everton, Wolves, and a host of La Liga clubs. Aged 23, Hume still has plenty of room to improve, and big clubs will start competing for his signature over the next year or so in a bid to ensure Hume reaches his very high ceiling on their watch. Sunderland fans, cross your fingers. You won’t find any better right backs on the market than Hume.

Sunderland 2025/26 Season Prediction

This section will be completed at the start of August, when the team has started to take a more accurate shape following various incomings and outgoings.