Sunderland

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We have looked into the age profile of Sunderland's players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.

For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.

The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.

As expected, Sunderland's squad skews heavily towards the youth category - and their summer signings have continued in the same vein.

While some clubs come into the Premier League and seek experience, the Black Cats have largely gone the other way, though Granit Xhaka's installation as captain may well have a deeper impact generally.

Ultimately, if several of the green dots here can play a healthy number of minutes - pushing up towards the top of the chart - it will prove priceless for the club.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Le Bris confirmed that a decision will be made on Friday as to whether latest signings Omar Alderete and Arthur Masuaku are available to start Saturday's match or use as an option later in the game.

• On Granit Xhaka being named as the new captain: "It's really natural because of Granit's level and his experience, leadership and understanding of the game. It's really easy after 10 minutes on the pitch to know that he will be our captain."

• He added: "For Dan [Neil] [who was captain last season] it's an opportunity to grow. He's young, still only 23 and he has the potential to become a Premier League player. For us as a club, a squad, as a coach and as a manager, it's a chance with this new experience to grow and that is the same for Dan."

• Le Bris feels like the "mindset has changed" this week as they prepare for their Premier League return: "We have to accept that we will suffer because the league is the best in the world, but let's fight and we'll see [what happens]."

• On how he would describe the summer at the club: "Busy. Interesting. The workflow was really positive. You can feel it in the building. Lots of work to do as it is a massive change. We reinforce everything in the club to be competitive at that level, so challenge is there but it's very positive the way we solve different problems and it has been a very positive experience."

• He said they need to "break the rule" for promoted clubs struggling to pick up points early and added: "It is very important. Last season we broke the rule with five defeats in a row. So there is always a new story. Can't be limited with previous experiences. It is a new experience and we believe we can hunt every single point and do our best for the fans."

• On proving people wrong like last season: "This is our mindset because we don't know the future. It is up to us to decide how we want to work, how we want to play, how we want to face the different challenges, how we want to be resilient, how we want to develop our togetherness - that is on us."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:

19) Sunderland

Last season: Fourth in Championship (promoted via play-offs)

No-one could accuse Sunderland of not having a go at staying up - bringing in enough players for a new XI to build on their promotion last season.

There have been 11 new signings at the last count as manager Regis le Bris receives strong backing in the battle to stay in the Premier League.

Granit Xhaka's seven years of Premier League experience with Arsenal, as well as his success with Bayer Leverkusen, will be vital, while the arrival of Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra from Strasbourg in a club record £30m deal was another notable signing. The Black Cats also paid Brighton £21m for winger Simon Adingra to add more Premier League experience.

Other arrivals include former West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku, Enzo le Fee, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, Robin Roefs and Marc Guiu.

It's quite an effort but integrating so many new signings may actually prove a problem.

Read the full piece

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Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka says he "demands a lot" after being named the club's new captain.

The 32-year-old only arrived this summer from Bayer Leverkusen but has been handed the armband by head coach Regis le Bris as the club return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.

Xhaka, who has previous experience in the league with Arsenal, captained Leverkusen on a number of occasions and has also skippered his national side Switzerland since 2020.

"It makes me incredibly proud to be captain of this club and of this team. I hope to show my leadership on and off the pitch, helping my team-mates in the training ground and across the club," he told club media.

"To be part of Sunderland's history, alongside some of the names who have worn the armband before, is an honour.

"People who know me know exactly what they'll get – I'm someone who demands a lot. I'm a winner and I want to win – and I expect the same from my team-mates."

Le Bris added: "In the Premier League, it will be important to have consistency, maturity, and experience. Granit brings all these qualities.

"His behaviour so far has been very impressive, and on the field, you can see that his level is high. Others around him can feel this influence, and his leadership will support the team as we adapt to a different environment and face new challenges and opportunities.

"Granit's role will also form part of a new leadership team, which will be finalised following the end of the summer transfer window."

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The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

The EFL Cup remains regionalised in the early rounds, with the draw split into Northern and Southern sections until round three.

Here are the ties involving Premier League clubs:

Northern section

Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Burnley v Derby County

Everton v Mansfield Town

Grimsby Town v Manchester United

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town

Southern section

Bournemouth v Brentford

Fulham v Bristol City

Oxford United v Brighton

Wolves v West Ham United

The 23 second-round ties will take place during the week beginning 25 August.

See the full draw over here

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Cliftonville have secured a season-long loan for Sunderland defender Tom Lavery.

The 19-year-old featured in pre-season friendlies for the Black Cats against Sporting Lisbon and Sevilla when part of the club's training camp in Portugal, while also featuring in a home game against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

A product of the Sunderland academy, Lavery was a regular for the Under-21s last season, while also featuring in seven matchday squads in the English Championship.

Lavery is the sixth arrival at Solitude this summer and Sunderland Academy Robin Nicholls feels the loan move will benefit all parties.

"This loan presents a great opportunity for Tommy to continue developing in senior football," he said.

"He has spent most of this pre-season with our first team, so he has been exposed to a high level of competition and training for several weeks now.

"We are grateful that Cliftonville will present an opportunity for him to continue his learning and development."

Have you got a question about Sunderland or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted a Black Cats theme or trend that needs further investigation?

Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.

Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.

No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.

Ask about Sunderland here

And find out more about BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything service here

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Sunderland striker Trey Ogunsuyi has signed a three-year contract to keep him with his boyhood club until 2028.

The 18-year-old joined at the age of 10 and has worked through the youth sides, scoring 15 goals in 20 games across the under-18 and under-21 teams last season.

The Belgium youth international was given his senior debut by first-team head coach Regis le Bris against Stoke City in the FA Cup in January and has been involved with the squad's pre-season preparations.

"I'm buzzing to have signed a new contract," Ogunsuyi told club media. "It's always what you dream of as a Sunderland fan so when I got to play for the first team, it was surreal, so I'm very grateful."

Academy manager Robin Nicholls added: "We are excited to continue executing the plan for his development and help him towards fulfilling the potential that he is showing."

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Sunderland have signed defender Omar Alderete from Getafe on a four-year deal.

The 28-year-old made 99 appearances for the La Liga club, including 36 last season.

He has spent previous campaigns with Basel, Hertha and Valencia after moving to Europe from South America in 2019.

"I'm feeling great about signing for this great team, so I'm really happy," said Alderete. " I'm looking forward to my first experience in the Premier League – it's a great challenge for me.

"I know it's a historic club, and when they told me there was an opportunity, I was excited about coming here.

"It's always important to have the support of the people, and I'm going to give it my all on the pitch."

Alderete will wear the number 15 shirt.

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Sunderland have appointed set-piece coach James Brayne to Regis le Bris' backroom staff ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Joining from Charlton Athletic, Brayne is the latest addition to the coaching team, following the summer arrivals of assistant head coach Luciano Vulcano, assistant coach Isidre Ramon Madir, and goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler.

The set-piece specialist joined the Addicks 18 months ago and was part of the set-up that led the South-East Londoners back to the Championship via the 2024-25 EFL Play-Offs.

Brayne previously spent over a decade with Birmingham City across two spells, which were split by three years with Manchester City.

Gavin Henderson
Fan writer

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I'm hopeful because Sunderland have spent a lot of money on new players - and we haven't finished yet.

There is an almighty chasm between the Championship and the Premier League, so it was absolutely essential the football club spent this summer recruiting quality players who could help bridge the gap. I think we have done a very good job thus far.

The acquisition of Granit Xhaka, in particular, is startling. We are talking about a genuinely top-class midfield player who I reckon the majority of clubs in the Premier League would love to have in their squads. Yet he has come to Sunderland and is going to lead our charge as captain for the forthcoming season.

Our approach hasn't been scattergun - it has been bold and calculated. If, come the end of the season, the worst happens and we go back down, at least we can say that we gave ourselves the best possible chance of staying up by strengthening our squad.

Having said that, I'm fearful because this is a very different Premier League to the one we left behind eight years ago.

It is the fear of the unknown more than anything. Even clubs who are smaller than Sunderland are propped up by many years of Premier League TV money and have the quality at their disposal to show for it.

I don't think it is arrogant to suggest Sunderland are a bigger football club than Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth or Fulham - among others - but it doesn't matter one bit when these clubs have spent many years now in the top flight in receipt of the riches that come with being a part of the Premier League.

The playing field has never been less equal for promoted clubs, and that has shown in the fact the past six teams to have come up from the Championship have gone straight back down.

Sunderland are out to buck that trend, but it is going to be an incredibly tough season.

We have got to be ready not only for a battle, but to lick our wounds whenever we are on the end of a tanking, which will inevitably happen a lot more to us than it ever did during our eight-year stay in the EFL.

Find more from Gavin Henderson at Roker Report, external

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Bundesliga side Wolfsburg are interested in Sunderland full-back Trai Hume. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport

Once defender Omar Alderete's transfer from Getafe to Sunderland is completed, it will take spending by the three newly promoted clubs to over £300m this summer.

Excluding Alderete, the Black Cats have paid out an estimated £122m on 10 players. Burnley have brought in 13 new faces at a cost of approximately £100m, while Leeds United have invested £73.5m on seven signings.

There is little doubt that consolidating top-flight status is harder than ever, with the gulf between the Championship and Premier League continuing to widen. In each of the previous two seasons, the three sides that came up went straight back down.

As a consequence, clubs are spending ever increasing sums in the hope of remaining competitive, but with no guarantee it will pay off.

Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City shelled out a total of £276.5m last summer but together they accumulated just 59 points, the lowest combined figure by newly promoted teams in a 38-game Premier League season.

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We asked for your views on whether Sunderland are ready for the new season.

Here are some of your comments:

Martin: The club are serious about the infrastructure as well as making high-class signings. We've come a long way from the mismanaged club that got relegated from the Premier League in 2017. Have we got what it takes to stay up? Time will tell, but at least we're giving it a go. Haway the lads!

Stu: Sunderland will be competitive this season and the new additions that have come have added further quality and, more importantly, energy and physicality. The core of the squad (15/16 players) when everyone is fit looks capable. Underneath that there are gaps. A further two or three signings would be welcome to give Regis Lle Bris the depth needed, especially over the winter. There is also the dead wood that needs moving on and expect that to be sorted soon. All positive and looking forward to the season.

Matt: The transfer business we've seen so far this summer has taken us all by surprise in the best possible way. The calibre of players we've managed to attract to the club - often in the face of direct competition from Premier League rivals - has been impressive. I think we're just two signings away from having a squad truly capable of staying up. We need more cover for left wing and we need a proven striker to bolster our options. Guiu looks like he could be a good signing, but we need another option in case he doesn't make the grade or gets injured. I'd prefer a big money signing for a player in their prime with Premier League or top-level credentials, but I'd also be happy with someone like Jamie Vardy or Dominic Calvert-Lewin if the funds aren't available for that. The players will all need time to gel with one another, of course, but I'm optimistic about how the season might pan out.

Glyn: Lots of new players signed, some from non-competitive leagues. Why didn't we sign Kyle Walker (experienced and much cheaper than Xhaka). Also why did Henderson choose Brentford? Who is going to lead and inspire the club when we've got two points after five or six games. Also, how many players are we are going to lose to Afcon? Sorry for the negativity - I do have confidence in Le Bris but where will we get the 36 points to stay up?

Oliver: It's been a very promising window with some exciting football having been played in pre-season. It's the most ready Sunderland have been for years to compete in the Premier League.

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David Jones has stepped down from his role on the Sunderland board of directors.

The non-executive director had held an advisory position at the Stadium of Light since December 2019, but will leave the club with immediate effect.

"It has been one of the great honours of my life to serve on the board of Sunderland for so long," Jones told the club website., external

"It feels like the right time to step away with the club's journey back to the Premier League complete. Sunderland is in great hands, on and off the field. The club is unrecognisable from the one I joined in League One and I can't wait to see the continued progress in the weeks and months ahead".

Jones is a lifelong supporter of the club and is well known as a presenter of Sky Sports football coverage.

Black Cats chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said: "David's counsel and support have been greatly appreciated throughout my time at the club".

"His contribution has been significant in our journey to the Premier League, and his passion for Sunderland AFC has been constant."

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Regis le Bris spoke to Nick Barnes after Sunderland lost to Rayo Vallecano in their final pre-season friendly: "The dynamic is a bit different, so it's not easy to play at the best level. They tried, and that was the most important thing today, to work hard even if the flow of the game is a bit different.

"When Wilson [Isidor], [Chris] Rigg and Enzo [Le Fee] are connected to the main squad it will be totally different. They will be ready for the Premier League.

"It's a young team stepping in a new league, but with the desire, with the togetherness, we can create many things.

"We are still worried by the next step, but at the same time, we need to trust our players. I think they work well. So far, they showed during this pre-season that we stepped up."

Wilson Isidor also spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle and on Eliezer Mayend he said: "He played all the minutes of the pre-season. So I'm really happy for him. He's a really good striker and with good potential and good quality.

"If we remember the final, I think he was more free when he was playing with me. We have a good connection. We are good friends, so let's keep it like that. I'm happy for everything happening to him.

"We know it will be tough. But now we have a good group. We have a good connection between all the players, the fans also. The most important is to give everything every weekend on the pitch.

"If you have a good group, you can do amazing things. Last season, we had a good group, and now my expectation is to keep that group really focused and determined to stay in the Premier League."

Listen to more of the audio here