Examining Sunderland’s first signing from the last 10 summers and seeing where they are now in their careers.
The summer transfer window is one of the most important parts of a football season. Campaigns can be made or destroyed before they have even begun due to the signings the club has made.
The Stadium of Light faithful have witnessed this first-hand. Many of the poor seasons over the last 10 years can be traced back to the failure to adequately strengthen Sunderland’s first team.
With all the madness that usually surrounds the transfer window, this article looks back at where Sunderland’s first signing from the last 10 summers are now.
Read more: Every key date for Sunderland’s upcoming 2024/25 season.
Billy Jones – Summer 2014
Billy Jones joined Sunderland ahead of the 2014/15 season on a free transfer from West Brom. The right-back spent four years at the Black Cats, playing 86 times before leaving for Rotherham in 2018.
The defender lasted three years at the side, helping to guide them back to the Championship in 2020. He left the club a year later with the 37-year-old now retired and coaching in Shrewsbury’s youth academy.
Sebastian Coates – Summer 2015
Sebastian Coates joined Sunderland from fellow Premier League side Liverpool in 2015. Signing permanently under Dick Advocaat, after a successful loan spell at the Black Cats, the Uruguayan only spent another year at the Stadium of Light.
In 2016, he moved to Portuguese giants Sporting CP, which eventually became permanent. Coates has been at the club ever since, winning numerous trophies including two league titles.
Papy Djilobodji – Summer 2016
David Moyes brought in Papy Djilobodji for his first signing at the club, however, the transfer was far from successful. After being relegated down to League One, the defender was eventually sacked for breaching his contract and failing his fitness test.
After this, he had a brief spell at French side EA Guingamp before moving to Turkish side Gaziantep in 2019. He has remained there ever since.
Aiden McGeady – Summer 2017
One of the more successful signings on this list. Aiden McGeady joined Sunderland upon their relegation to the Championship. Despite another relegation following, the winger helped the club win the EFL trophy and the playoffs.
McGeady then returned to Scotland where he spent a year at Hibs. He is now at Scottish Championship side Ayr United as both a player and a technical manager.
Read more: Every confirmed Sunderland signing and departure for the 2024/25 season.
Alim Ozturk – Summer 2018
Turkish defender Alim Ozturk joined Sunderland on a free transfer as they prepared for life in League One. He struggled to maintain a place in the side in his two-year stay and eventually departed in 2020.
From here, he returned to Turkey to play for Ümraniyespor. Ozturk now makes his trade for Samsunspor, where he has been since 2022.
Conor McLaughlin – Summer 2019
After leaving Millwall, Conor McLaughlin moved down to League One to play for Sunderland. In his two years at the club, he won the EFL trophy at the Black Cats.
His time at the Stadium of Light came to an end in 2021 and he went on to join Fleetwood Town. After a year, he left the League One side and retired due to injury. Upon leaving Fleetwood, he had the third-highest amount of appearances ever in the EFL of all time.
Aiden O’Brien – Summer 2020
Coming into Sunderland after his long stay at Millwall came to an end, Aiden O’Brien struggled at the Black Cats. In his two years at the club, he only scored 11 goals before departing for Portsmouth.
However, this stay there did not last long either and he joined Shrewsbury Town in 2022. Since then, he has been shipped out on loan to Gillingham and last season, Sutton United.
Alex Pritchard – Summer 2021
Sunderland signed Alex Pritchard from Huddersfield in 2021. Here, the attacking midfielder helped guide the club back into the Championship in his first season and achieved another playoff campaign the year after.
Pritchard departed the Black Cats for Birmingham City in January 2024 where got relegated to League One.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Sunderland’s upcoming 2024 pre-season tour.
Dan Ballard – Summer 2022
One of two players still at the club, Dan Ballard joined Sunderland from Arsenal ahead of their first year back in the Championship. Here, the defender has been a reliable presence at the back in the English second tier.
Luis Semedo – Summer 2023
Youngster Luis Semedo became Sunderland’s first signing of the summer last season. However, the attacker has struggled to adapt to the English game and he hasn’t scored for the Black Cats in 24 games.