List of Sunderland A.F.C. records and statistics

Last updated

Sunderland Association Football Club , are a professional football club based in Sunderland, North East England. They were announced to the world by the local newspaper, The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette on 27 September 1880 as Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club [1] following a meeting of the Teachers at Rectory Park school in Sunderland on 25 September 1880. The football club changed their name to the current form on 16 October 1880, just 20 days after the September announcement. They were elected into The Football League in the 1890–91 season, becoming the first team to join the league since its inauguration in the 1889–90 season, replacing Stoke F.C.

Contents

Transfers

All figures are based on the maximum potential fee and are correct as at 20 August 2025.

In

DatePosNameFromFeeReport
1 July 2025MF Flag of Senegal.svg Habib Diarra Flag of France.svg RC Strasbourg £30 million [2]
10 July 2025LW Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Simon Adingra Flag of England.svg Brighton & Hove Albion £21 million [3]
9 July 2025RW Flag of Morocco.svg Chemsdine Talbi Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Club Brugge £19.5 million [4]
3 June 2025MF Flag of France.svg Enzo Le Fée Flag of Italy.svg AS Roma £19 million [5]
4 July 2025MF Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Noah Sadiki Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Union SG £17.5 million [6]
31 August 2016MF Flag of Gabon.svg Didier N'Dong Flag of France.svg FC Lorient £13.8 million [7]
31 August 2010FW Flag of Ghana.svg Asamoah Gyan Flag of France.svg Rennes £13 million [8]
24 August 2012FW Flag of Scotland.svg Steven Fletcher Flag of England.svg Wolverhampton Wanderers £12 million [9]
29 June 2011FW Flag of England.svg Connor Wickham Flag of England.svg Ipswich Town £12 million (£8M up front) [10]
5 August 2014MF Flag of England.svg Jack Rodwell Flag of England.svg Manchester City £10 million [11]
23 August 2012MF Flag of England.svg Adam Johnson Flag of England.svg Manchester City £10 million [12]
5 August 2009FW Flag of England.svg Darren Bent Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur £10 million [13]
31 August 2015FW Flag of Italy.svg Fabio Borini Flag of England.svg Liverpool £10 million (£8M up front) [14]
1 August 2015MF Flag of Argentina.svg Ricardo Álvarez Flag of Italy.svg Inter Milan £9 million [A] [15]
30 January 2016MF Flag of Tunisia.svg Wahbi Khazri Flag of France.svg Bordeaux £9 million [16]
8 August 2007GK Flag of Scotland.svg Craig Gordon Flag of Scotland.svg Hearts £9 million (£7M up front) [17]
15 July 2015MF Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jeremain Lens Flag of Ukraine.svg Dynamo Kyiv £8 million [18]
27 August 2013DF Flag of England.svg Anton Ferdinand Flag of England.svg West Ham United £8 million (£6.75M up front) [19]
5 August 2016DF Flag of England.svg Papy Djilobodji Flag of England.svg Chelsea £8 million [20]
30 August 2002FW Flag of Norway.svg Tore André Flo Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers £6.75 million [21]
16 July 2013MF Flag of Italy.svg Emanuele Giaccherini Flag of Italy.svg Juventus £6.5 million [22]
30 June 2013MF Flag of the United States.svg Jozy Altidore Flag of the Netherlands.svg AZ Alkmaar £6 million [23]
30 June 2011MF Flag of England.svg Craig Gardner Flag of England.svg Birmingham City £6 million [24]
29 August 2007FW Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Kenwyne Jones Flag of England.svg Southampton £6 million [25]
12 August 2009FW Flag of England.svg Lee Cattermole Flag of England.svg Wigan Athletic £6 million [26]
29 January 2011FW Flag of Benin.svg Stéphane Sessègnon Flag of France.svg Paris Saint-Germain £6 million [27]
1 September 2008DF Ulster Banner.svg George McCartney Flag of England.svg West Ham United £5.5 million (£4.5M up front) [28]
16 July 2007MF Flag of England.svg Kieran Richardson Flag of England.svg Manchester United £5.5 million [29]
31 January 2013FW Flag of England.svg Danny Graham Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea City £5 million [30]
30 July 2008MF Flag of France.svg Steed Malbranque Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur £5 million [31]
26 July 2009MF Flag of Albania.svg Lorik Cana Flag of France.svg Marseille £5 million [32]
13 July 2007FW Flag of England.svg Michael Chopra Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff City £5 million [33]
7 July 2011DF Flag of Ireland.svg John O'Shea Flag of England.svg Manchester United £5 million [34]

Out

DatePosNameToFeeReport
10 June 2025MF Flag of England.svg Jobe Bellingham Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Dortmund £32 million (£27.8M up front) [35]
15 June 2017GK Flag of England.svg Jordan Pickford Flag of England.svg Everton £30 million (£25M up front) [36]
18 January 2011FW Flag of England.svg Darren Bent Flag of England.svg Aston Villa £24 million (£18M up front) [37]
9 June 2011MF Flag of England.svg Jordan Henderson Flag of England.svg Liverpool £20 million (£16.25M up front) [38]
24 August 2024MF Flag of England.svg Jack Clarke Flag of England.svg Ipswich Town £20 million (£15M up front) [39]
30 January 2017DF Flag of the Netherlands.svg Patrick van Aanholt Flag of England.svg Crystal Palace F.C. £14 million (£9M up front) [40]
25 June 2013GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Simon Mignolet Flag of England.svg Liverpool £11.25 million (£9M up front) [41]
1 June 2025FW Flag of England.svg Tom Watson Flag of England.svg Brighton and Hove Albion £10 million [42]
1 September 2023FW Flag of Scotland.svg Ross Stewart Flag of England.svg Southampton £10 million (£8M up front) [43]
3 August 2015FW Flag of England.svg Connor Wickham Flag of England.svg Crystal Palace F.C. £9 million (£7M up front) [44]
17 July 2018MF Flag of Tunisia.svg Wahbi Khazri Flag of France.svg Saint-Étienne £9 million (£6M up front) [45]
12 August 2010FW Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Kenwyne Jones Flag of England.svg Stoke City £8 million [46]
31 August 2013FW Flag of Benin.svg Stéphane Sessègnon Flag of England.svg West Bromwich Albion £6.5 million [47]
9 July 2012FW Flag of Ghana.svg Asamoah Gyan Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain £6 million (added to £6M loan fee received previously) [48]
1 June 2018MF Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jeremain Lens Flag of Turkey.svg Beşiktaş £6 million (including £6M loan fee) [49]
30 June 2017FW Flag of Italy.svg Fabio Borini Flag of Italy.svg AC Milan £5.3 million (£1M up front) [50]
30 August 2001MF Flag of Scotland.svg Don Hutchison Flag of England.svg West Ham United £5.25 million [51]
8 July 2010MF Flag of Albania.svg Lorik Cana Flag of Turkey.svg Galatasaray £5.1 million [52]
24 July 2009MF Flag of England.svg Dean Whitehead Flag of England.svg Stoke City £5 million [53]
23 July 1999FW Flag of England.svg Michael Bridges Flag of England.svg Leeds United £5 million [54]
26 June 2018DF Ulster Banner.svg Paddy McNair Flag of England.svg Middlesbrough £5 million [55]

Honours and achievements

Sunderland have won a total of six Football League Championships including three in the space of four seasons, along with being runners-up five times. Sunderland have also experienced success in the FA Cup, winning it twice; in 1937 and 1973. They have never won the League Cup but finished as finalists in 1985 and 2014. [56] [57] [58]

League

Cup

Player records

Appearances

Most appearances

Competitive matches only. Each column contains appearances in the starting eleven, followed by appearances as substitute in brackets. [60]

#NameYearsLeague FA Cup League Cup Other [61] Total
1 Flag of England.svg Jimmy Montgomery 1960–1977537 (0)41 (0)33 (0)16 (0)627 (0)
2 Flag of England.svg Len Ashurst 1957–1971403 (6)26 (0)23 (0)0 (0)452 (6)
3 Flag of Scotland.svg Ned Doig 1890–1904417 (0)35 (0)0 (0)5 (0)457 (0)
4 Flag of England.svg Stan Anderson 1951–1963402 (0)34 (0)11 (0)0 (0)447 (0)
5 Flag of England.svg Gary Bennett 1984–1995362 (7)17 (1)34 (1)21 (0)434 (9)
6 Flag of Scotland.svg Bobby Kerr 1964–1979355 (13)29 (1)14 (0)21 (0)419 (14)
7 Flag of England.svg Gordon Armstrong 1983–1996331 (18)19 (0)25 (4)18 (1)393 (23)
8 Flag of England.svg Charlie Buchan 1911–1925379 (0)32 (0)0 (0)0 (0)411 (0)
9 Flag of England.svg Michael Gray 1990–2004341 (22)17 (1)23 (4)2 (0)383 (27)
10 Flag of Ireland.svg Charlie Hurley 1957–1969357 (1)26 (0)17 (0)0 (0)400 (1)

Goalscorers

Top goalscorers

Competitive matches only, appearances including substitutes appear in brackets. [62]

#NameYearsLeague FA Cup League Cup Other [61] Total
1 Flag of England.svg Bobby Gurney 1925–50205 (348)23 (40)0 (0)0 (2)228(390)
2 Flag of England.svg Charlie Buchan 1911–25209 (379)13 (32)0 (0)0 (0)222(411)
3 Flag of Scotland.svg Dave Halliday 1925–29156 (166)9 (9)0 (0)0 (0)165(175)
4 Flag of England.svg George Holley 1904–19150 (280)9 (35)0 (0)0 (0)159(315)
5 Flag of Scotland.svg Johnny Campbell 1890-97135 (186)25 (19)0 (0)0 (0)154

(215)

  • Most Hat Tricks: Dave Halliday – 12 (11 league and 1 cup) [63]

Managerial records

Club records

Goals

Points

Matches

Firsts

  • First match: Sunderland 0–1 Ferryhill, 13 November 1880. [67]
  • First competitive match: Sunderland 2–2 Burnopfield in the Durham Challenge Cup, 11 December 1880. [68]
  • First league match: Sunderland 2–3 Burnley, 13 September 1890. [69]
  • First FA Cup match: Redcar 3–1 Sunderland, 8 November 1884. [70]
  • First League Cup match: Brentford 4–3 Sunderland, 26 October 1960. [71]
  • First European match: Vasas Budapest 0–2 Sunderland, 19 September 1973, UEFA Cup Winner's Cup. [72]

Record wins

Record defeats

Attendances

Average home attendances since 1891 Safcattendances.JPG
Average home attendances since 1891

Overall

Competitive Attendance Records by Ground

Attendances at Sunderland's grounds prior to Newcastle Road were rarely recorded. Attendances at Newcastle Road, and in the seasons prior to 1925 at Roker Park were usually approximations.

GroundHighestLowest
LeagueOtherLeagueOther
Newcastle Road c. 24,000 v. Sheffield United, 5 March 1898 [79] c. 23,000 v. Aston Villa, FA Cup, 10 February 1894 [80] c. 2,000 v. Blackburn Rovers, 19 December 1896 [81] c. 1,500 v. Birtley Town in the Durham Challenge Cup, 20 November 1886 [77]
Roker Park 68,004, v. Newcastle United, 4 March 1950 [82] 75,118 v. Derby County, FA Cup, 8 March 1933 [75] 3,841 v. Manchester City, 11 April 1934 [76] c. 1,500 v Darlington in the Durham Senior Cup, 21 October 1931 [83]
Stadium of Light 48,355 v. Liverpool, 13 April 2002 [84] 47,543 v. Manchester United, EFL Cup, 28 November 2000 [85] 22,167 v. Wigan Athletic, 2 December 2003 [86] 3,498 v. Oldham Athletic in the EFL Trophy, 1 December 2021 [78]

European statistics

Record by season

Below is Sunderland's record in European competitions. [72] They have only appeared once in European competition, during the 1973–74 season where they reached the second round. They qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup after winning the 1973 FA Cup Final over Leeds United.

SeasonCompetitionRoundCountryClubHome result [C] Away result [C] Notes
1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup R1 Flag of Hungary.svg Vasas Budapest 2–01–0 [D]
R2 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Sporting CP 2–10–2
Key

Record by competition

CompetitionPlayedWonDrawnLostGoals
for
Goals
against
European Cup Winners' Cup 430153
Total430153

Notes

A.  ^ : Payment of the transfer fee for Ricardo Alvarez was imposed on Sunderland in 2017 following the loss of a legal dispute with Inter Milan. The total cost of the Alvarez deal, including compensation and court fees is estimated to be close to £20m. [87]
B.  ^ : Sunderland were promoted in the 1989–90 season despite being beaten in the 1990 play-off final, Swindon Town originally won the match 1–0 but Sunderland took their place in the First Division after Swindon admitted to making illegal payments. [66]
C.  a b : Sunderland score is given first in each result.
D.  ^ : Sunderland qualified for the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup by winning the 1973 FA Cup.

Footnotes and references

Footnotes:

  1. "Happy Birthday Sunderland AFC – 136 Years Old! – Ryehill Football". 25 September 2016.
  2. "Habib Diarra signs for Sunderland". Sunderland Association Football Club. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  3. "Adingra arrives from Brighton". Sunderland Association Football Club. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  4. "Talbi seals Sunderland switch". Sunderland Association Football Club. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  5. "We've got Le Fée". Sunderland Association Football Club. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  6. "Sadiki signs five-year deal at Sunderland". Sunderland Association Football Club. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. "Ndong deal completed". Sunderland Association Football Club. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  8. "Sunderland pay £13m to sign Gyan". 31 August 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  9. "Steven Fletcher: Sunderland complete £14m deal for Wolves striker". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  10. "Sunderland sign Ipswich striker Connor Wickham". BBC Sport. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. "Jack Rodwell: Man City midfielder completes Sunderland move". BBC Sport. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  12. "Adam Johnson moves to Sunderland from Manchester City". BBC Sport. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  13. "Bent seals record Sunderland move". 5 August 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  14. "Fabio Borini: Sunderland sign Liverpool striker for £10m". BBC Sport. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  15. Rayner, Stuart (18 June 2017). "Ricardo Alvarez's £9m non-transfer sums up why Sunderland are loaded and skint at the same time". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  16. "CONFIRMED: Sunderland complete £9million signing of Wahbi Khazri2". 30 January 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. "Gordon completes Sunderland move". 8 August 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  18. "Jeremain Lens: Sunderland sign £8m Netherlands midfielder". BBC Sport. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  19. "Ferdinand makes Sunderland switch". 27 August 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  20. "Djilobodji joins Sunderland". Sunderland Association Football Club. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  21. "Flo joins Sunderland". 30 August 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  22. "Sunderland sign £6.5m Emanuele Giaccherini from Juventus". BBC Sport. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  23. "Sunderland: Jozy Altidore joins from AZ Alkmaar on four-year deal". BBC Sport. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  24. "Sunderland sign Craig Gardner from Birmingham". BBC Sport. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  25. "Sunderland sign £6m striker Jones". 29 August 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  26. "Sunderland swoop for Cattermole". 12 August 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  27. "Sunderland pay £6m for Sessegnon". 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  28. "McCartney makes Sunderland return". 1 September 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  29. "Sunderland sign winger Richardson". 16 July 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  30. Hunter, James (7 September 2020). "Danny Graham failed at Sunderland first time around, but in League One it could be different". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  31. "Malbranque signs Sunderland deal". 30 July 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  32. "Sunderland sign Marseille captain". 24 July 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  33. "Sunderland wrap up Chopra signing". 13 July 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  34. "Man Utd's John O'Shea signs four-year Sunderland deal". BBC Sport. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  35. "Jobe Bellingham departs for Dortmund". www.safc.com. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  36. "Jordan Pickford: Everton confirm £25m, rising to £30m, deal with Sunderland". BBC Sport. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  37. "Villa confirm record Bent signing". 18 January 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  38. "Liverpool complete Jordan Henderson deal". BBC Sport. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  39. "Jack Clarke: Ipswich Town agree deal to sign Sunderland forward for £15m plus £5m in add-ons". BBC Sport. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  40. "Patrick van Aanholt: Crystal Palace sign Sunderland defender in potential £14m deal". BBC Sport. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  41. "Simon Mignolet: Liverpool sign Sunderland keeper for £9m". BBC Sport. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  42. "Brighton transfer news: Tom Watson to sign from Sunderland for £10m". BBC Sport. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  43. Wyatt, Mark (1 September 2023). "Southampton announce Ross Stewart signing from Sunderland". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  44. "Crystal Palace sign striker Connor Wickham from Sunderland". BBC Sport. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  45. "Sunderland confirm Wahbi Khazri joins Saint-Etienne on initial £6million deal". 17 July 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  46. "Stoke sign Jones for record £8m". 12 August 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  47. "West Brom sign Stephane Sessegnon and Victor Anichebe". BBC Sport. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  48. "Asamoah Gyan completes move from Sunderland to Al-Ain". BBC Sport. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  49. "Besiktas sign Jeremain Lens on permanent deal from Sunderland". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  50. Taylor, Louise (28 June 2017). "Sunderland's Fabio Borini set for medical ahead of £5.3m move to Milan". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  51. "Roeder signs Hutchison". 30 August 2001. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  52. "Sunderland skipper goes to Turkey". 8 July 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  53. "Stoke confirm Whitehead transfer". 24 July 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  54. "BBC News | Football | Leeds snap up Bridges". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  55. "Paddy McNair: Middlesbrough sign Northern Ireland midfielder from Sunderland". BBC Sport. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  56. "Roll of Honour". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  57. "England — List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  58. "War Time Cup Finals". Sporting Chronicle. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  59. Mason, p 456.
  60. Mason, p 458.
  61. 1 2 The "Other" column constitutes goals and appearances (including those as a substitute) in the FA Charity Shield, the European Cup Winners' Cup, the Football League Trophy, the Anglo-Italian Cup, the Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Texaco Cup and relegation/promotion play-offs.
  62. Mason, p 457.
  63. "Dave Halliday" qosfc.com
  64. Mason, p 203.
  65. Mason, p 204.
  66. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Sunderland". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  67. Days, p 10.
  68. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  69. Mason, p 224.
  70. Mason, p 444.
  71. Mason, p 346.
  72. 1 2 "European Competitions 1973-74". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  73. 1 2 Mason, p 443.
  74. "Roker Park – the Stadium Guide".
  75. 1 2 "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  76. 1 2 "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  77. 1 2 "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  78. 1 2 "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  79. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  80. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  81. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  82. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  83. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  84. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  85. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  86. "Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat". www.thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  87. Johns, Craig (24 April 2020). "Ricky Alvarez on his time at Sunderland and the controversial costly exit". ChronicleLive.

References: