Again within the Premier League after a protracted absence, Sunderland have wasted no time in attempting to ascertain themselves as extra than simply relegation candidates.
In the summertime, the membership spent £141.5m – the second-highest spend by a promoted facet in English soccer historical past, behind solely Nottingham Forest in 2022.
That cash introduced in Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Chemsdine Talbi (Membership Brugge), Noah Sadiki (Union SG), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), and Nordi Mukiele (PSG).
Such funding has been rewarded early.
With three wins from their opening fixtures, Sunderland sit fifth within the Premier League, a place even their most optimistic supporters couldn’t have imagined at this stage.
The problem forward is sustaining that kind, significantly with a visit to Previous Trafford looming this weekend.
For all of the headline arrivals, although – alongside the headline makers like three-goal hero, Wilson Isidor – it’s maybe the least anticipated of their summer season offers that’s proving to be probably the most vital.
Sunderland’s earlier £30m sensation
Sunderland followers know higher than most the significance of getting a goalkeeper who could make the distinction at each membership and worldwide degree.
Their academy produced Jordan Pickford, who emerged from a collection of loans to displace Vito Mannone in 2016/17.
That season, Pickford was so spectacular that he was nominated for the PFA Younger Participant of the Yr Award, a uncommon honour for a keeper.
When Sunderland have been relegated on the finish of that marketing campaign, Pickford turned a prized asset.
Everton swooped with a £30m deal, which stays one of the vital profitable gross sales within the membership’s historical past.
Since then, Pickford has made 325 appearances for Everton, holding 91 clear sheets, and has established himself as England’s undisputed No.1 with 78 caps, producing defining moments in penalty shootouts on the World Cup and European Championships.
That legacy of homegrown excellence set the bar excessive for any future Sunderland keeper.
Whereas a lot of the focus has been on flashy outfield signings this summer season, it’s the man between the posts who’s starting to seize the identical form of acclaim Pickford as soon as did.
Sunderland’s subsequent £30m star within the making
Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, Robin Roefs has been nothing in need of excellent in his first Premier League season.
The 22-year-old Dutch youth worldwide, with ten U21 caps to his identify, has performed each minute of Sunderland’s marketing campaign up to now – 540 minutes in whole – and already has three clear sheets to his identify.
Described by Andy Sixsmith as having had an “glorious begin” to life at Sunderland – whereas being dubbed “completely superior” by Kevin Phillips – Roefs has proven maturity past his years.
Whereas he was at fault for a purpose conceded towards Aston Villa – palming a shot into the roof of his personal web – his response since then has highlighted his resilience and temperament.
Statistically, he has been elite: a save proportion of 82.5% (99th percentile), a clear sheet charge of fifty% (99th percentile), and a cross-stopping proportion of 10% (91st percentile).
A direct comparability with Pickford’s present numbers underlines the size of his begin, with the pair deemed to be statistically related gamers, as per FBref.
Premier League – 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
Robin Roefs | Jordan Pickford | |
Matches Performed | 6 | 6 |
Saves | 18 | 11 |
Clear Sheets | 3 | 2 |
Penalties Saved | 1 | 1 |
Supply: FBref | ||
Final season, Roefs averaged 3.0 saves per 90 minutes, in comparison with Pickford’s 1.83. His save proportion of 82.6% far outstrips Pickford’s 72.2%, and he has conceded simply 0.67 objectives per 90 towards Pickford’s 1.0.
Even in clear sheet proportion, Roefs comes out on prime—50% to 33.3%.
It’s no shock, then, that Roefs has additionally been likened in fashion to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, as per Fbref, each keepers famend for combining robust shot-stopping with trendy distribution.
For Sunderland, having a participant of that calibre between the sticks supplies a basis for his or her survival hopes and long-term ambitions.
Supporters could have anticipated their big-money forwards or high-profile midfield additions to steal the highlight, with Isidor definitely flourishing regardless of the step up, however it’s Robin Roefs who has been their standout.
Simply as Pickford’s rise as soon as introduced Sunderland vital acclaim and monetary reward, there’s already a way that Roefs may observe an identical path—each by way of on-field influence and, in time, market worth.
At solely 22, Sunderland could have already got unearthed their most essential signing of the summer season.
