Sunderland’s most expensive sales ever

SunderlandAfter returning to Premier League In 2025, for the first time in eight years, he pumped money into the transfer market.

The Black Cats have spent more than £150m on new players, however, they have also benefited from two Stadium of Light stars.

Here’s a look at Sunderland’s 20 biggest sales of all time, with a breakdown of the top ten.

10

Kenwyn Jones

£8 million to Stoke City in 2010

Starting the top ten is Kenwyn Jones, who moved to the Stadium of Light in 2007 from Southampton.

The powerful striker has made just over 100 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring 28 goals, and has appeared to love playing in the red and white stripes, as the Trinidad and Tobago striker will join Stoke City.

9

Connor Wickham

£9 million to Crystal Palace in 2015

Connor Wickham has made more appearances for Sunderland than any of the other 10 clubs he has represented during his career, with the striker spending four years in the North East.

Signed for around £8m, Wickham was sold to Crystal Palace in 2015 but would suffer several injuries at Selhurst Park.

8

Tom Watson

£10 million to Brighton 2025

The hero of Sunderland’s match at Wembley against Sheffield United was Tom Watson, whose final kick as a Black Cats player was an injury-time winner to send the club upstairs.

A deal has already been struck with Brighton which sees Watson head south for £10m.

7

Simon Mignolet

£11 million to Liverpool in 2013

Simon Mignolet’s first experience of English football came with Sunderland, where the goalkeeper cost just £2m in 2010 from Club Brugge.

Steve Bruce was in charge at the time, and Mignolet made over 100 appearances before being sold for a handsome profit to Liverpool.

6

Patrick Van Aanholt

£12m to Crystal Palace in 2017

Two years after sealing a deal for Wickham, Crystal Palace have approached Sunderland again, this time to sign left-back Patrick van Aanholt.

After coming to Chelsea, Sunderland became Van Aanholt’s next permanent home, at a cost of just under £2m. Three years later, the Black Cats secured £10m from the speedy Dutch full-back.

5

Jack Clark

£15m to Ipswich in 2024

Jack Clarke got his career back on track at Sunderland after his failed move to Tottenham from Leeds.

The winger initially helped the Blackcats win promotion from League One and would spend two full seasons at the Stadium of Light before Ipswich Town offered him Premier League football in a deal worth £15m.

4

Darren is a girl

£18 million to Aston Villa in 2011

Darren Bent, who scored the beach ball goal against Liverpool in 2009 at the Stadium of Light, scored 24 Premier League goals in his first season as a Sunderland player.

At an initial cost of £10m from Tottenham, Sunderland were only going to have Bent for 18 months, and after submitting a transfer request, he was sold to Aston Villa for £18m.

3

Jordan Henderson

£20 million for Liverpool 2011

Sunderland fan Jordan Henderson came through the club’s academy and would go on to captain the Black Cats, making 79 appearances before moving to Liverpool.

The Reds paid £20m for the midfielder, who would go on to captain at Anfield, lifting the Premier League and Champions League.

2

Jordan Pickford

£25 million to Everton in 2017

Another Black Cats fan who came through Sunderland’s academy to earn big money for the club was goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The England number one made just 35 first-team appearances at the Stadium of Light and was loaned out to six different teams as a youngster before Everton came along with a £25m offer.

1

Joby Bellingham

£27.8m to Borussia Dortmund in 2025

At the top of the list of Sunderland’s most expensive signings is Jobe Bellingham, who followed in his brother Jude’s footsteps by joining Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham made 90 appearances for the Blackcats, most recently the final, scoring 11 goals, leaving for just under £28m at the age of 19.