James Copley: What Florent Ghisolfi got RIGHT and WRONG during Sunderland’s crazy transfer window
Sunderland got plenty right in a chaotic summer window, but Florent Ghisolfi still leaves a couple of questions unanswered
Sunderland did not get absolutely everything they wanted from the summer window, but they got an awful lot right.
A specialist right winger and another left-footed centre-back would have rounded things off nicely, yet Florent Ghisolfi still leaves the summer having strengthened key areas, moved on players no longer central to the plan, kept hold of the core Régis Le Bris wanted and secured several important new contracts.
That is the fairest way to judge it. Split Sunderland’s window into four areas - incomings, outgoings, player retention and contract management - and there is strong work across all of them. The squad is deeper, more physical and more flexible, while the spine of the side that finished seventh last season remains intact.
Incomings: Sunderland filled most of the gaps
The recruitment had a purpose. Sunderland wanted to improve the size and physical profile of the squad, add depth for four competitions and blend youth with experience. Thomas Meunier (6ft 3in), Dayann Méthalie (around 6ft 2in), Jules Ahoka (around 6ft 3in), Kevin Danso (6ft 3in) and Juan Riquelme Angulo (6ft 4in) all fit that plan.
Méthalie was important because Reinildo had been carrying too much responsibility on the left. The 20-year-old provides genuine cover and competition there. The departure of Lutsharel Geertruida created another problem. Sunderland have effectively replaced one extremely versatile defender with greater numbers. Meunier (34) brings experience and can play at right-back or in a back three, while Danso (27) strengthens the centre.
Ahoka (20) is a longer-term midfield investment who can learn underneath Granit Xhaka. Angulo (18) follows similar logic in attack, giving Sunderland a physically imposing young striker to develop behind Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor. Malick Fofana (21) is the glamour addition. Sunderland wanted more pace, one-against-one quality and unpredictability in attacking areas and eventually landed one of Europe’s most highly-rated young wingers.
There are two obvious regrets. Sunderland explored the market for a specialist right winger until late in the window and did not land one, while another naturally left-footed centre-back would have completed the defensive picture. Fofana can operate from either flank, while Nilson Angulo, Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi could all play on the right if needed. Trai Hume offers another option when Le Bris wants greater defensive solidity. It is not the same as having an orthodox right winger, but Sunderland clearly believe they have enough versatility until the position is revisited.
Outgoings: clearing a bloated wider squad
The outgoing work was almost as important as recruitment. Sunderland had senior players on the fringes, academy players whose pathways had narrowed and others who simply needed regular football elsewhere.
Eliezer Mayenda and Anthony Patterson were the headline sales, bringing in significant fees and helping Sunderland’s squad-cost position. Dan Neil and Dennis Cirkin left on free transfers, while Ahmed Abdullahi, Leo Hjelde, Arthur Masuaku, Timothée Pembélé, Nazariy Rusyn, Luis Semedo, Harrison Jones and Zak Johnson also moved on permanently.
Bertrand Traoré and Niall Huggins were released. Oliver Bainbridge, Tom Lavery, Ethan Moore, Jake Waters, Dan Cameron, Elias Lenz, Marshall Burke, Adam Richardson, George Bell and Ivan Struk were among those to leave the development group. Sunderland also found developmental loans for several younger players. Jenson Seelt joined Swansea after signing a new contract, Milan Aleksić moved to Partizan Belgrade, while Matty Young also agreed fresh terms before heading to Huddersfield for regular senior football.
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Deals for Simon Adingra and Abdoullah Ba could still follow through overseas windows. It is a substantial clear-out. Some were never going to feature in the Premier League, while others needed minutes Sunderland could not give them. The wider group is leaner, and the wage bill is carrying fewer players without a first-team role.
Player retention: keeping the core together
This may be the strongest part of Sunderland’s window because it involved staying calm and sticking to their vision. Keeping Xhaka was enormous. He became central to Sunderland’s identity last season, and retaining his leadership, quality and authority preserves the dressing-room structure around which much of the team has been built.
The same applies to Noah Sadiki and Robin Roefs, who attracted interest after excellent seasons. Sunderland did not allow last year’s success to become an invitation for other Premier League clubs to pick the squad apart. Le Bris therefore starts again with a stable core that understands his football and is still growing together. Sunderland have added around that group rather than rebuilding it, which should become valuable once the Europa League schedule starts to bite. Sunderland have not lost a player that they didn’t want to this summer.
Contracts: protecting Sunderland’s best assets
The final quarter is contract management, an area where Sunderland have done impressive work. Roefs has committed until 2031, while Isidor and Romaine Mundle have signed until 2030. Seelt also extended until 2030 before heading to Swansea. Those deals strengthen Sunderland’s hand, remove uncertainty and protect players who could attract serious bids in future windows. There has been work further down the pathway too. Timur Tutierov signed a new deal, while Young, Charlie Dinsdale, Finn Geragusian and Marcus Neill were among the youngsters to agree professional terms, though they did unfortunately lose Liam Ogunsuyi.
No window is flawless. Sunderland would probably be stronger with an orthodox right winger and another left-footed centre-back, and both areas can be revisited. But judge the whole summer rather than just the final panicked few hours, and the direction is clear. Sunderland recruited where they wanted to for the most part, cleared substantial excess, kept every major player they wanted and improved their contractual position. Across those four quarters, that is a strong window on paper, albeit you can only really judge properly in the fullness of time.