When Trai Hume arrived from Linfield for £200,000 in January 2022, Sunderland were a League One side. The Northern Ireland defender could not have imagined his first‑time volley would later seal a 2‑1 victory over Chelsea on the final day. That win not only completed a league double but also booked the Black Cats a place in next season’s Europa League, ending a 53‑year European exile.

Sunderland’s ascent began with a 2‑0 win over Wycombe in the 2022 League One play‑off final, then a 2023 Championship play‑off triumph that returned them to the top flight after eight years. French coach Regis le Bris arrived in 2024, steered the club to a seventh‑place finish with 54 points – just six shy of Liverpool – the best debut‑season tally for a promoted side since Leeds in 2020‑21.

The Black Cats splashed £161m on 15 new signings, a spend that outpaced the combined outlay of Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich last season. Ajax forward Brian Brobbey contributed seven league goals, while former PSG defender Nordi Mukiele added experience at the back. Le Bris’ ability to blend these arrivals into a cohesive unit turned Sunderland into a genuine European contender.