Sunderland’s transfer history has always carried a sense of drama. This is a club with huge support, a major stadium, a proud top-flight past and, at times, a painful record of big-money deals that did not go to plan.
But the modern Sunderland story has shifted. After years outside the Premier League, the Black Cats returned with a far more structured recruitment model, combining young talent, resale value and selected experience. The result was one of the most ambitious spending periods in the club’s modern history, with qualification for Europe nailed.
From Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fée to Simon Adingra, Brian Brobbey and Granit Xhaka, Sunderland’s record signings now tell the story of a club trying to re-establish itself at the highest level.
Sunderland’s Most Expensive Signings
Here is a snapshot of some of Sunderland’s biggest incoming transfers in recent history:
Habib Diarra from Strasbourg
Reported fee: around £30 million
Position: Central midfielder
Signed: 2025
Simon Adingra from Brighton & Hove Albion
Reported fee: around £21 million including add-ons
Position: Winger
Signed: 2025
Brian Brobbey from Ajax
Reported fee: up to around £25 million
Position: Striker
Signed: 2025
Enzo Le Fée from Roma
Reported fee: around £19 million to £20 million
Position: Central midfielder
Signed permanently: 2025
Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge
Reported fee: around £19 million to £20 million including add-ons
Position: Winger
Signed: 2025
Noah Sadiki from Union Saint-Gilloise
Reported fee: around £15 million to £17.5 million including add-ons
Position: Midfielder
Signed: 2025
Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen
Reported fee: around £17 million
Position: Central midfielder
Signed: 2025
Didier Ndong from Lorient
Reported fee: around £13.6 million
Position: Midfielder
Signed: 2016
Asamoah Gyan from Rennes
Reported fee: around £13 million
Position: Striker
Signed: 2010
Jeremain Lens from Dynamo Kyiv
Reported fee: around £12.5 million
Position: Winger
Signed: 2015
Steven Fletcher from Wolves
Reported fee: around £12 million
Position: Striker
Signed: 2012
Fabio Borini from Liverpool
Reported fee: around £10 million
Position:…..
