Regis Le Bris led his Sunderland side back to the Premier League after waiting eight years. And the Black Cats haven’t just come to take part.
Sunderland have started the season in fine form, picking up seven points from their opening four Premier League fixtures, sitting seventh as things stand.
This has the Black Cats above Manchester City, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Not to mention their two promoted counterparts, Leeds and Burnley.
While this is just four games in, the signs they have shown already are positive. The Black Cats have kept things tight with just three goals conceded, while scoring enough to win games.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Sunderland’s transfer window
Sunderland had an extremely active summer window upon making their Premier League return. They spent £163.4million on 14 new additions, only making four notable sales of their own.
This has seen the squad value (according to Transfermarkt) raise from £181.6m to £252.2m, adding plenty of young and exciting prospects to their ranks.
While the young and exciting additions take up a lot of the media coverage, Sunderland have added experience with some astute business alongside them.
Granit Xhaka was signed for around £17.3m, adding much needed leadership in the middle of the park and invaluable Premier League experience.
Nordi Mukiele was also signed just after the start of the Premier League campaign, joining from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of around £12m.
While free transfers for Reinildo Mandava and Arthur Masuaku, as well as a loan move for Lutsharel Geertruida, adds even more experience to their ranks.
The balance between young prospects and experienced pros has allowed the team to gel slightly easier, with the older heads guiding the younger ones.
Quality in midfield
Two of my favourite signings from Sunderland of the summer, are the two midfielders who flank Xhaka, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki.
The pair are extremely well suited to the Premier League, having the physicality and engines to cope with high intensity games, while also having the technical quality to match.
Sunderland have averaged 48.4% possession per game so far this season, ranking them 11th among other Premier League sides.
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In games where Le Bris’ side are going to have less of the ball, it is important the midfield are able to press effectively and offer threat going the other way in transition.
Both Diarra and Sadiki do this extremely effectively, covering the ground alongside Xhaka, before launching attacks through their ability to carry the ball forwards and make runs in behind.
- Diarra progressive carries per 90 in 2025-26: 2.63
- Sadiki progressive carries per 90 in 2025-26: 2.05
- Diarra ball recoveries per 90 in 2025-26: 2.11
- Sadiki ball recoveries per 90 in 2025-26: 1.79
Robin Roefs sensational start
Robin Roefs is another new signing that is impressing in his early Sunderland career, already making four appearances and keeping two clean sheets.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper has only conceded three goals this season from a post-shot Expected Goals of 4.8. This means Roefs is already overperforming by +1.8 PSxG, third-highest in the league behind just James Trafford and Guglielmo Vicario.
Roefs has an 80% save percentage this season, making 2.75 saves per 90 minutes and keeping Sunderland in games when they are on the back foot.
While goalkeepers sometimes aren’t the most glamorous signings, keeping the ball out of your own net is invaluable, allowing you to pick up points which could be the difference between staying up or going down.
- Roefs saves per 90 in 2025-26: 2.75
- Roefs post-shot expected goals per 90 in 2025-26: 1.20
- Roefs post-shot expected goals – goals against per 90 in 2025-26: +0.45
Attacking options
While Roefs and co have kept Sunderland safe at the back, they have also scored five goals themselves in their four games so far, with a plethora of new options to choose from in the attacking unit.
The Black Cats added a few wingers to their ranks, with a new centre-forward joining the club in the final days of the window in the shape of Brian Brobbey.
Adding Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi and now Brian Brobbey to the forward line has given Le Bris options, with the likes of Wilson Isidor, Eliezer Mayenda and Enzo le Fee offering different options dependent on game plan.
Sunderland are only averaging 9.3 shots per game as it stands, leaving them 15th in the shot-volume rankings so far this season, while also only generating 3.94 xG, the fourth lowest in the league.
These metrics suggest things aren’t quite clicking in the forward line just yet, with chance creation not optimal and unsettled relationships among the unit.
As things continue and relationships grow, Le Bris will get a better understanding of his best front three, the dynamics between them and how to best generate chances.