In Pursuit of Excellence | Sunderland A.F.C.

[Xixak]

Sunderland Blank Leeds to All but Secure Champions League Place

April 26th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #34
Stadium of Light
Sunderland (3rd) vs. Leeds (14th)

1 - 2

Match Facts
47% - Possession - 53%
4 - Shots - 5
4 - Chances - 4

Match Events
26' Ba (SUN)
34' Jobe (SUN)
84' Amad (SUN)

Man of the Match
Davis (SUN): 8.9 rating, 1 assist

[Xixak]

Sunderland Fall to Brighton Despite Davis' Late Surge

May 4th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #35
American Express Stadium
Brighton (17th) vs. Sunderland (3rd)

1 - 2

Match Facts
53% - Possession - 47%
4 - Shots - 4
3 - Chances - 3

Match Events
34' Ba (SUN)
59' Joao Pedro (BRI)
69' Sarr (BRI)
76' Bonaventura (BRI)
89' Davis (SUN)

Man of the Match
Joao Pedro (BRI): 8.2 rating, 1 goal

[Xixak]

Sunderland Defeat Wolves in High-Scoring Affair

May 11th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #36
Stadium of Light
Sunderland (3rd) vs. Wolves (20th)

3 - 2

Match Facts
57% - Possession - 43%
6 - Shots - 4
6 - Chances - 4

Match Events
3' Jobe (SUN)
24' Sarabia (WOL)
32' D. Braganca (SUN)
47' Kouame (WOL)
72' Ba (SUN)
74' Jobe (SUN)

Man of the Match
Jobe (SUN): 8.7 rating, 1 goal

[Xixak]

Sunderland Destroy Palace in Penultimate Match of the Season Despite Playing with 10 Men

May 17th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #37
Stadium of Light
Crystal Palace (8th) vs. Sunderland (3rd)

0 - 3

Match Facts
51% - Possession - 49%
4 - Shots - 4
3 - Chances - 4

Match Events
7' Amad (SUN)
8' Bassey (SUN)
28' L. Garcia (CRY)
47' Jobe (SUN)
54' Ampadu (SUN)
80' Amad (SUN)

Man of the Match
Amad (SUN): 10.0 rating, 2 goals

[Xixak]

Sunderland Earn Scoreless Draw on Final Day

May 25th, 2025
Premier League - Matchday #38
Stadium of Light
Sunderland (3rd) vs. Nottingham Forest (7th)

0 - 0

Match Facts
70% - Possession - 30%
5 - Shots - 2
4 - Chances - 1

Match Events
25' Worrall (NOT)

Man of the Match
Sommer (SUN): 7.2 rating, 2 saves

[Xixak]

End of Season Update



Major European League Champions
EFL Championship: Southampton
Ligue 1: Paris St. Germain
Bundesliga: FC Bayern München
Serie A: Juventus
Eredivisie: Ajax
Liga Portugal: FC Porto
LaLiga: Real Madrid

Major European & English Cup Winners
Emirates FA Cup: Liverpool def. Aston Villa 2-1
Carabao Cup: Arsenal def. Man City 3-0
UEFA Super Cup: Real Madrid def. Liverpool 2-1
UEFA Champions League: Dortmund def. Real Madrid 2-0
UEFA Europa League: Milan def. Frankfurt 2-1
UEFA Europa Conference League: Rangers def. Stuttgart 2-1

[Xixak]

2025-26 Board Expectations

Youth Development - Medium

• Short Term: Sign at least 3 players younger than 20 years old with potential greater than the average overall rating of players currently in the same position.
• Short Term: Sign 1 player in your youth academy assigned to the defender position.

Brand Exposure - High

• Short Term: Get 10 wins in home matches this season.
• Short Term: Sign 1 Crucial 1st Team Player assigned to a defender position.

Financial - Low

• Long Term: Make a £2,550,000 profit from youth player sales within 2 seasons. (Remaining seasons: 1)

Domestic Success - Low

• Short Term: Premier League - Finish Mid Table
  [*}Short Term: Emirates FA Cup - Reach the Round of 16 Stage.

Continental Success - Very Low

• UEFA Champions League - Reach the Quarter Final

[Xixak]

Sunderland Make Teden Mengi First Summer Transfer

Sunderland have completed the signing of Luton Town center-back, Teden Mengi for £13.3M to start their summer transfer window. With Champions League looming, depth in the squad is important, and Mengi provides very solid cover for first choice right center-back Calvin Bassey. He will earn £25K per week on a five-year contract with the club.

[Xixak]

Sunderland Sell Hector Bellerin to Wolves for £11M

Sunderland have completed a deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers to sell Hector Bellerin for £11M. Bellerin was only at the club for a season but was a good servant at right-back for their first year back in the Premier League. However, it looks like Brendan Rodgers and the board want a clear upgrade at that position in preparation for the Champions League, with the club eyeing someone with comparable ability to assist-leader, Leif Davis on the right flank.

[Xixak]

Sunderland Sell Captain, Dan Neil to Bournemouth

This marks the second season in a row where Sunderland have sold their captain. Dan Neil was decent for the club last year but was out for a decently long spell with injury. So far, Jobe Bellingham has proven to be the better player, but neither is really quite ready to start at RCM for a champions league campaign. The younger Bellingham will be kept as the backup while the club explores a new option for first choice in the role going forwards. Sunderland received a hefty £20.5M fee for Neil from the Cherries.