Sunderland have signed some flops over the years for big money, including the likes of Jack Rodwell and Didier Ndong. However, the Wearsiders have also managed to pluck several gems over the years that have gone on to be fabulous servants for the club.
Here, we take a look at Sunderland’s best-ever value-for-money signings over the years:
5. Kevin Ball
340 league appearances for Sunderland and years of service since means Kevin Ball represented tremendous value for money. Photo: Getty Images
6. Marco Gabbiadini
The striker signed for Sunderland for a transfer fee of £80,000 and was sold 87 goals later for to Crystal Palace for a club-record transfer fee of £1.8million. He was seen as a replacement for Ian Wright, who joined Arsenal for £2.5million in September 1991 Photo: Ben Radford
7. Gary Bennett
Gary Bennett left Cardiff City for Sunderland for a tribunal set fee of £65,000, as well as a £20,000 bonus once Bennett had appeared in 40 matches for the club. Bennett ended up making a whopping 369 league appearances for the club. Photo: Shaun Botterill
8. Ross Stewart
The striker joined Sunderland in League One for a small fee and helped fire the club into the Championship before being sold to Southampton for a massive profit. Photo: Stu Forster