Impressive Sunderland on their way to becoming the next Brentford or Brighton

Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland have more pressure on them than most promoted teams in the Premier League this season. In each of the last two campaigns, the teams that have come up from the Championship have gone straight back down. So far, though, the indications are that this particular trio will be more competitive.

This is certainly true in Sunderland’s case. The Black Cats have won four of their opening eight Premier League fixtures, losing just twice. Regis Le Bris’ side are currently sitting comfortably in the top half of the table, a long way from the relegation danger many predicted they would be in.

Of course, Sunderland still have a lot of work ahead of them to secure their place in the Premier League for another season, but the team from the North East are well on their way to establishing themselves in the top flight. More than that, they are on their way to becoming the next Brentford or Brighton.

Brentford and Brighton have punched well above their weight for the last few seasons, earning themselves a reputation for being among the smartest and best-run clubs in the Premier League. There is a class of smaller clubs that have put data analysis and shrewd recruitment at the heart of their success. Bournemouth could also be mentioned in this category.

Like some of the aforementioned Premier League clubs, Sunderland have made excellent use of the transfer market to strengthen. Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has transformed the club into a modern, forward-thinking outfit since arriving at the Stadium of Light four years ago. That led to a number of shrewd signings.

Wilson Isidor arrived from Zenit St Petersburg last year with the French forward now a reliable performer for the Black Cats in the final third. Enzo La Fee came in from Roma, initially on a loan deal that was made permanent in the summer. This year, though, Sunderland elevated their transfer strategy to a much higher level.

Sunderland spent the best part of $200m on new signings before the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season. While the club had prioritised buying young in the Championship, they instead looked to add experience and proven quality to their squad to prepare for life in the English top flight.

Granit Xhaka was the marquee addition of the summer and the Swiss midfielder has lived up to his billing, immediately becoming a central pillar of Le Bris’ team this season. Nordi Mukiele has also hit the ground running, finding the back of the net in the win over Wolves last weekend.

Reinildo Mandava was signed from Atletico Madrid to give Sunderland a stronger defensive presence while Habib Diarra was a $30m addition from Strasbourg. The 21-year-old is a box-to-box operator who has already shown himself to be a good fit for the physicality and speed of the Premier League.

Sunderland have spent a lot of money, but they have done so in the belief this will give them a solid basis to build on over the coming seasons. It’s part of their model. Under Le Bris, the Black Cats play a pragmatic game that has made them difficult to play through in the early stage of the season. 

They can also play quickly into the attack when the opportunity is there. Sunderland can play on the break, as they did in the away win over Nottingham Forest. They are also capable of controlling a match through possession. The Stadium of Light outfit can play in a number of different ways depending on the task and the opposition.

So far, Sunderland have looked at home in the Premier League. This is where the club and its fans feel they belong, especially after eight years in the EFL. Supporters would have taken top flight survival before the start of the season, but their start to the campaign might have altered expectations.