Sunderland returned to the Premier League this season with a summer that made the rest of the league sit up and take notice.
Backed by ambitious ownership, the Black Cats spent £141.5m, just short of Nottingham Forest’s record spend for a newly promoted side in 2022.
It was a bold statement that they intend to survive the drop.
Habib Diarra arrived from Strasbourg to add dynamism in midfield, Simon Adingra was snapped up from Brighton, while Chemsidine Talbi and Noah Sadiki joined from Belgium.
Perhaps the most eye-catching additions were Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen and Nordi Mukiele from PSG.
Both players who bring Champions League experience and leadership to a youthful squad. That recruitment drive quickly paid dividends.
A raucous Stadium of Light saw Sunderland sweep aside West Ham 3-0 on the opening day.
Reality bit a week later with a 2-0 defeat away to Burnley, but Régis Le Bris’ side bounced back.
A last-gasp Wilson Isidor strike secured a 2-1 win over Brentford before a disciplined 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace earned another valuable point.
The Black Cats host Aston Villa next, with the fanbase buzzing at the idea that this side might just be capable of more than survival.
For many, the excitement brings back memories of one man: Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian forward who lit up the Stadium of Light during his brief but memorable spell.
Asamoah Gyan – Sunderland’s Premier League icon
When Sunderland signed Gyan from Stade Rennais in 2010 for a then-club record £13m, expectations were high.
The Ghanaian had already proven himself in Ligue 1 with 14 goals and five assists in 53 appearances and had enhanced his reputation on the international stage, scoring freely for the Black Stars.
Gyan wasted no time making his mark, scoring on his debut against Wigan Athletic. His flair made him an instant fan favourite.
Sunderland supporters will never forget his role in the club’s famous 3-0 victory away at Chelsea, nor the dramatic 94th-minute equaliser in the Tyne-Wear derby that denied Newcastle a double over their fiercest rivals.
Though his stay was short – 11 goals in 37 appearances before a lucrative move to Al-Ain in the UAE – Gyan’s impact was lasting.
At Sunderland, he remains a symbol of what a talismanic striker can do for the club. Lift the team, energise the fans, and turn matches on their head.
Fourteen years on, supporters may finally have reason to believe they’ve found a modern version of Gyan in their new Dutch centre-forward.
Brian Brobbey can be Sunderland’s modern-day Gyan
When Brian Brobbey swapped Ajax for Sunderland in a deal worth up to £21 million, eyebrows were raised.
Here was a 23-year-old striker and “natural born killer”, as per talent scout Jacek Kulig, with a proven record in the Eredivisie – 56 goals and 24 assists in 163 appearances – opting to take the next step in his career on Wearside.
For Sunderland, it was their 13th signing of a hectic summer but arguably the most significant.
A two-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax, Brobbey also boasts international experience with the Netherlands, having earned eight caps so far.
Like Gyan before him, he arrives with pedigree and hunger, eager to prove himself in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
The timing of his move was crucial. Sunderland had been forced into the market after Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu as cover for Liam Delap.
Brobbey was identified not only as a replacement but as a forward who could spearhead the club’s attack for years to come.
A centre-forward “goal machine”, in the words of Kulig, his numbers speak for themselves.
Matches Played
30
Goals
4
Assists
3
Progressive Carries
18
Progressive Passes
19
Source: FBref
Brobbey ranks in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty expected goals (0.61 per 90), the 94th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.53 per 90), and the 99th percentile for assists (0.50 per 90).
He also offers physical presence, winning aerial duels at an impressive rate and pressing defenders relentlessly.
Stylistically, he has been compared to Nick Woltemade, Marcus Thuram, and Nicolas Jackson, as per FBref – all forwards who blend power with mobility.
Yet for Sunderland fans, the more exciting comparison is with Gyan.
Like the Ghanaian, Brobbey thrives on sharp movement in the box, intelligent link-up play, and an ability to score crucial goals.
If he can replicate even half of Gyan’s impact in red and white, Brobbey could become a cult hero on Wearside.
And unlike Gyan, who departed after just one season, Sunderland will hope their Dutch striker sticks around long enough to build a legacy of his own.