The Black Cats were immediately looking to strengthen following their promotion from League One, as several players weren’t offered new deals following the end of their contracts.
Sunderland also had a handful of loan players during the 2021/22 season who then returned to their parent clubs.
We’ve taken a closer look at what happened to the players who left Wearside at the end of the last campaign.
5. Jordan Willis - Free agent
While Willis wasn't offered a new contract at Sunderland in the summer, the defender has still been training with the Black Cats as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury. The-28-year-old suffered a ruptured patella tendon during a match at Shrewsbury in 2021. Photo: Frank Reid
6. Will Grigg - MK Dons
Grigg's final appearance for Sunderland came during a Carabao Cup tie at Port Vale last season, before he was loaned out to Rotherham. The 31-year-old scored twice in 19 League One appearances for the Millers, before re-signing for MK Dons when his Sunderland contract expired in the summer. This season Grigg has scored three times in seven appearances for a struggling Dons side. Photo: Frank Reid
7. Aiden McGeady - Hibernian
Despite being part of the club’s promotion celebrations at Wembley, McGeady’s Sunderland career came to an underwhelming end as he missed most of the 2021/22 season with a knee injury. The 36-year-old then linked up with former Black Cats boss Lee Johnson at Hibs, after the winger’s Sunderland contract expired, yet McGeady is yet to feature in the league due to a recurrence of his knee issue. Photo: Frank Reid
8. Arbenit Xhemajli - FC Vaduz
Perhaps a case of what could have been after the Kosovan defender was sidelined for over a year with a cruciate knee ligament injury. The 24-year-old showed great resolve to come back and play a part in Sunderland’s promotion campaign, yet he wasn’t offered a new deal. The centre-back instead returned to Switzerland to sign for second-tier side FC Vaduz, where he has started four consecutive league games. Photo: Frank Reid