Twelve months ago, Sunderland were widely expected to struggle through a debut Premier League campaign after winning promotion via the Championship play-offs. What followed was one of English football's most remarkable stories in recent memory: a seventh-place finish and a first European berth in over half a century.

Now, as Regis Le Bris' side prepare for their second successive top-flight season, the question is no longer whether they can survive — it is how high they can climb.

A squad built to compete

Le Bris retained the core group that earned promotion and reinforced it with a set of bold, high-profile signings. Nordi Mukiele arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, while Brian Brobbey joined from Ajax to lead the attack. The headline addition, however, was Granit Xhaka — a player arriving fresh from a near-perfect season at Bayer Leverkusen, whose leadership and composure instantly transformed the dressing room.

Defenders Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete completed the defensive rebuild without generating the same fanfare, yet both proved equally important across the campaign. The Stadium of Light became one of the league's most hostile venues, and Sunderland collected victories over Chelsea, Everton, and, most memorably, local rivals Newcastle United.

The Enzo Le Fee factor

Few arrivals attracted more eyebrows than Enzo Le Fee's loan move to Sunderland in January 2025 — barely six months after Roma had signed him for around £20 million. The midfielder silenced every sceptic, helping drive the promotion push before signing permanently and maintaining his form in the Premier League. He is widely regarded as the club's most influential figure heading into 2026-27.

Youth at the core

Sunderland carried the second-youngest average starting XI in the Premier League last season, behind only Chelsea. Robin Roefs, Chemsdine Talbi, Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra, and Eliezer Mayenda each made regular contributions despite all being under 23, and Le Bris drew widespread praise for the trust he placed in that young group. Brian Brobbey led the scoring charts with seven Premier League goals in 31 appearances.

Europe and the challenge ahead

Sunderland become only the fifth newly promoted side in Premier League history to qualify for European football through their league position. That achievement carries a price: the Thursday-Sunday fixture cycle that has derailed more established clubs. Balancing UEFA Europa League commitments with a demanding domestic schedule will define whether this is a fleeting moment or the beginning of something lasting.

From the stands, supporters are already dreaming. One fan summed up the mood: after 53 years without European football, the city is on a high — and expectations, once cautiously modest, have now been set ridiculously high. Whether Sunderland can meet them is the most compelling subplot in English football's new season.

FourFourTwo's verdict places Sunderland at 17th this season; the magazine noted that last season's xG table had the Black Cats as low as 18th before a late surge delivered seventh place.