When you reflect on the consistency Roefs has produced for Sunderland this season, it’s worth remembering that he had not been at the top of the club’s shortlist in the summer. Initially they had looked at goalkeepers with more experience in top European leagues and had been willing to spend a huge sum to get one, a reflection of how critical they thought this position to be. In the first half of the season, Roefs was right up at the top for save percentage and goals prevented - an absolutely vital part of a Sunderland side who continuously confounded the naysayers to stay well clear of the bottom three. He perhaps didn’t quite maintain that level through the second half of the campaign but remained one of the most dependable stoppers in the division. Most impressive is his unflappability in all scenarios - the sky really does look to be the limit. A+ placeholder image
When you reflect on the consistency Roefs has produced for Sunderland this season, it’s worth remembering that he had not been at the top of the club’s shortlist in the summer. Initially they had looked at goalkeepers with more experience in top European leagues and had been willing to spend a huge sum to get one, a reflection of how critical they thought this position to be. In the first half of the season, Roefs was right up at the top for save percentage and goals prevented - an absolutely vital part of a Sunderland side who continuously confounded the naysayers to stay well clear of the bottom three. He perhaps didn’t quite maintain that level through the second half of the campaign but remained one of the most dependable stoppers in the division. Most impressive is his unflappability in all scenarios - the sky really does look to be the limit. A+ | Getty Images

The Sunderland end-of-season player grades and what they tell us about the summer transfer window ahead

Phil Smith
By Phil Smith

Sunderland AFC Writer

Published 28th May 2026, 17:00 GMT

Sunderland secured a seventh-place finish and a place in the Europa League at the end of a stunning campaign

A 2-1 win over Chelsea secured Europa League football for Sunderland next season and was a fitting end to one of the most memorable campaigns in the club’s modern history.

Here, Phil Smith grades each and every member of the first-team squad and previews how their campaigns might impact the work that director of football Florent Ghisolfi does in the transfer market this summer.

Only players who featured in the Premier League this season and who remain contracted to the club at this stage feature.

What is there left to say? In the opening weeks of the campaign, he was the key creative player in a Sunderland side that was inexperienced at the level and didn’t find easy to control possession. In the closing weeks of the campaign, he was the leader whose ambition helped drive the team to a remarkable seventh-placed finish. Many of those early games of the campaign would likely have gone differently without him and his role in attracting the calibre of player that signed in the final weeks of the window lifted the potential of the campaign. His arrival is without doubt one of the most crucial sliding-doors moments in the club’s history. A*

13. Granit Xhaka

What is there left to say? In the opening weeks of the campaign, he was the key creative player in a Sunderland side that was inexperienced at the level and didn’t find easy to control possession. In the closing weeks of the campaign, he was the leader whose ambition helped drive the team to a remarkable seventh-placed finish. Many of those early games of the campaign would likely have gone differently without him and his role in attracting the calibre of player that signed in the final weeks of the window lifted the potential of the campaign. His arrival is without doubt one of the most crucial sliding-doors moments in the club’s history. A* | Getty Images

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His consistency, availability and impact for a player so young has been remarkable. It speaks volumes that by September, Sunderland fans had already accepted that this was a player destined for the very top. An outstanding talent, if he can add a handful of goals and assists to his game then he will play regularly in the Champions League before long - his industry catches the eye but his touch and willingness to move the ball quickly and effectively are underrated. A*

14. Noah Sadiki

His consistency, availability and impact for a player so young has been remarkable. It speaks volumes that by September, Sunderland fans had already accepted that this was a player destined for the very top. An outstanding talent, if he can add a handful of goals and assists to his game then he will play regularly in the Champions League before long - his industry catches the eye but his touch and willingness to move the ball quickly and effectively are underrated. A* | Getty Images

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It’s been a rollercoaster of a first campaign on Wearside for Diarra. He started the campaign in strong form before injury and then AFCON meant he missed a huge amount of action. He roared back with crucial goals against Burnley but then perhaps understandably struggled for consistency. As such it hasn’t been the campaign he would have wanted, but he did well to reset and finish the campaign with some good cameos from the bench. It’s a big year for him next year - he’s shown he has the attributes to make a real impact. B-

15. Habib Diarra

It’s been a rollercoaster of a first campaign on Wearside for Diarra. He started the campaign in strong form before injury and then AFCON meant he missed a huge amount of action. He roared back with crucial goals against Burnley but then perhaps understandably struggled for consistency. As such it hasn’t been the campaign he would have wanted, but he did well to reset and finish the campaign with some good cameos from the bench. It’s a big year for him next year - he’s shown he has the attributes to make a real impact. B- | Frank Reid

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By the end of the campaign, Rigg could reflect on a really good season of progress. While he didn’t feature much through the first half of the campaign and what will surely have led to frustration, he worked hard and learned much from training with a very high standard of player. Though he wasn’t a regular in the second half of the campaign, he bounced back from a tough night at Brentford in the new year to make a series of good contributions and his performance in the pressure of an away derby was hugely impressive. Still just 18, he has an excellent platform to now kick on from. Any talk of a loan move is now surely over, he’ll be in a unit of five or six central midfielders for next season’s busy schedule. B+

16. Chris Rigg

By the end of the campaign, Rigg could reflect on a really good season of progress. While he didn’t feature much through the first half of the campaign and what will surely have led to frustration, he worked hard and learned much from training with a very high standard of player. Though he wasn’t a regular in the second half of the campaign, he bounced back from a tough night at Brentford in the new year to make a series of good contributions and his performance in the pressure of an away derby was hugely impressive. Still just 18, he has an excellent platform to now kick on from. Any talk of a loan move is now surely over, he’ll be in a unit of five or six central midfielders for next season’s busy schedule. B+ | AFP via Getty Images

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