Sunderland’s 10 most expensive signings of all time

Sunderland’s transfer history certainly makes interesting reading.

Indeed, lacking the finance to keep up with other top flight clubs yet always somehow staving off relegation, an incredible variety of players have passed through the doors at the Stadium of Light since the Premier League’s incarnation more than two decades ago.

The issue of the Black Cats’ transfer policy has re-emerged in recent weeks, after the late appointment of David Moyes limited the club’s activity during the summer – resulting in a winless start to their Premier League campaign with nine games already gone.

With that in mind, FootballFanCast have spent the last few days mulling over Sunderland’s track record in the transfer market and most particularly, their ten most expensive signings of all-time – with a little help from our mates at TransferMarkt.co.uk.

We’ve ranked the Wearside outfit’s most expensive acquisitions and although they’ve certainly landed some hits over the years, they’ve also shelled out some embarrassing sums on absolute duds.

10. Craig Gordon

Sunderland made Craig Gordon the Premier League’s most expensive goalkeeper of all time when they paid Hearts £9.2million for his services in summer 2007. The Scotland international struggled to find his groove, however, and after a string of injury problems was eventually released in 2012 – making just 88 top flight appearances in five years.

Verdict: Flop

9. Jeremain Lens

Dick Advocaat splashed out £9.7million on Jeremain Lens during his only summer transfer window in charge of the Black Cats, having previously worked with the Dutch winger at AZ and PSV. But Advocaat lasted just a handful more games before handing the reigns to Sam Allardyce, whilst Lens soon disappeared from the starting XI and was loaned out to Fenerbahce last summer.

Verdict: Flop

8. Darren Bent

Darren Bent couldn’t quite make the grade at Tottenham Hotspur but provided the goals to keep Sunderland’s collective head above water after arriving in a £10million deal, albeit later rising to £16.5million through add-ons. He scored 32 goals in 58 Premier League appearances before moving to Aston Villa for a club-record £18million.

Verdict: Hit

7. Wahbi Khazri

Wahbi Khazri was one of the men behind Sunderland’s great escape last season, arriving in January at a cost of £10million. Sam Allardyce was clearly fond of the Tunisian attacker but he’s not had much impact under David Moyes this season, failing to find the net or provide an assist in six Premier League appearances.

Verdict: Hit (just)

6. Jack Rodwell

Many thought Sunderland had pulled off an absolute steal when they picked up Jack Rodwell for £10.7million after a few injury-stricken campaigns at Manchester City, having once been deemed England’s next great central midfielder. But the 25-year-old’s development has continued to fail to show up and he now looks resigned to a career of mediocrity.

Verdict: Flop

5. Adam Johnson

Adam Johnson’s had his fair share of problems, which we won’t go into, but most would argue Sunderland got their money’s worth from their £10.7million acquisition – he helped to keep them afloat for four straight seasons and netted 19 Premier League goals in the process.

Verdict: Hit

4. Michael Turner

There appears to be some dispute over Michael Turner’s transfer fee but Transfermarkt bill him at a whopping £11.5million. The English centre-half spent three seasons on Wearside but never made more than 29 league appearances in a single campaign and eventually left for Norwich City, where he remains today. An average signing with a bizarrely inflated price-tag.

Verdict: Flop

3. Steven Fletcher

Sunderland coughed up just shy of £13million for Steven Fletcher, but the Scotland international could never quite replicate the form he showed at former club Wolves. He hit double figures in just one of four seasons with the Black Cats and eventually moved to Marseille on loan in January 2016, before being released in the subsequent summer.

Verdict: Flop

2. Asamoah Gyan

Much fanfare surrounded Asamoah Gyan’s £13.6million arrival after his impressive showings for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup and the striker certainly delivered, netting 10 times in his debut season on Wearside. But that brought an abrupt end to his Sunderland career as the African attacker went out on loan to Al Ahly, making himself and the Black Cats a small fortune in the process.

Verdict: Hit

1. Didier N’Dong

Sunderland’s new record signing hasn’t really been given enough time to prove himself just yet. But if his first few performances and terrible haircut are anything to go by, David Moyes has picked up a bit of a dud in Didier N’Dong.

Verdict: Flop (although the jury is still out)