luke evans

[Dougie Critchley @DougieCritchley]

I've been hurt by Sunderland players leaving before...

Darren Bent to Aston Villa, Patrick Van Aanholt to Crystal Palace, Stéphane Sessègnon to West Brom, even Josh Maja to Bordeaux...

I could always handle players like Henderson, Mignolet, Jobe taking huge, deserved leaps, Pickford the same after we were relegated... but I've never liked players making sideways steps.

Nothing though, will be able to prepare me for seeing Granit Xhaka in a Chelsea shirt... I can't begin to fathom it.

Chelsea are a bigger club, with a better chance of silverware over the next few seasons... but they've finished 10th or below twice in the last 4 years, finished 3 places below Sunderland in 25/26, losing to us home and away, and feel like a long way off their peak.

Xhaka would throw away EVERYTHING he's said about Sunderland, the fans, the community... to move back to London, work with a manager he's already worked with and represent one of Arsenal's biggest rivals?

I'm always reluctant to use words like betrayal... football is a business, players have to make decisions that they think is best for them...

But for me it would be one of the most soulless moves of the summer.

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

Thank you for writing us off...

[joe @Marshy_SAFC]

what a trilogy

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Sunderland’s starting XI in their joyous, season-ending 2-1 victory over listless Chelsea cost the same as £106m Enzo Fernandez. This is no slight on a world champion, an elite attacking midfielder, full of craft and craftiness, if moody at times. This is simply a celebration of Sunderland’s exceptional recruitment, finding gems who can see - and seize - the opportunity at the Stadium of Light.

This is also a celebration of Regis Le Bris’ remarkable team-building, blending and bonding qualities which have guided a side promoted via the play-offs into seventh and Europe. For those of us who thought Sunderland would go straight back down, apologies and enjoy Europe. You deserve it. A well-run football operation deserves it. That backing from stands to boardroom deserves it. Football also deserves it: a reminder that the status quo can be challenged with shrewd planning and investment and hard work.

Of Le Bris’ starting XI against Chelsea, eight joined on the eve of the season and one in the winter window: Roefs a reported £9m from Nijmegen; Mukiele £9.5m from PS-G; Reinaldo free from Atletico Madrid; Geertruida loan from RB Leipzig; Le Fee £19.3m, loan made permanent from Roma; Xhaka £13m from Bayer Leverkusen; Sadiki £15m from Union St-Gilloise; Angulo £17.5m from Anderlecht (in February); and seven-goal Brobbey £21.6m from Ajax. Two 2025 arrivals came off the bench: Diarra £30m from Strasbourg; and Isidor £5m loan made permanent from Zenit St-Petersburg (in February 2025).

Three of the 14 involved were already at the club. The starting pair of: Hume £200,000 from Linfield in 2022; and O’Nien undisclosed but reported as £200,000 to £300,000 from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018. And the sub: Rigg from Sunderland’s academy. (The £105.5m total does not include the undisclosed loan fees).

When Sunderland won 2-1 at the Bridge in October, Le Bris’ starting XI cost only £75m (and also had the important Ballard, £2m from Arsenal in 2022). Chelsea’s starting XI was £433m.

Four miles from the Bridge, on Park Lane this evening, the League Managers Association celebrates its members’ many achievements this season. Le Bris certainly deserves a mention. Mixing old and many new players, and getting new signings to settle quickly, requires real people skills. Le Bris and his staff clearly have them.

It’s also a reflection on Sunderland’s family club reputation that so many newcomers are welcomed and assimilated so quickly. Some will move on, some will be moved on but what a journey this is across England - and soon Europe. #SAFC

[UnderTheLight @UnderTheLight73]

If there’s ever a clip to sum up Enzo Le Fee, this could be it.

#SAFC

[Sunderland AFC @SunderlandAFC]

EUROPA LEAGUE FOOTBALL IS COMING TO SUNDERLAND!

[Absolutemtb @Absolutemtb1]

I found out on Wednesday one of the lads I work with died. He went to sleep & just didn’t wake up. Had an aneurysm during the night. Early 30’s, 2 kids, the nicest bloke you could meet, I’m gutted. You never know when your time is. Go for that ride, take that trip, buy that bike!

[Sky Sports News @SkySportsNews]

🗣️ ''That's the kind of incident that comes because defenders are trying to shield the ball''

Analysis on the collision between Cristian Romero and Antonin Kinsky after Romero tried to shield the ball from Brian Brobbey.

[luke evans @levans1992]

@sgtscooterboy Thanks mate👍🏼

[The 44 ⚽️ @The_Forty_Four]

Sunderland just dropped this TikTok😭😭😭

[Gary Bellamy @Gaz_Bellamy]

I’ve seen that move before.

[talkSPORT @talkSPORT]

👋 "Slapped by PSG. Slapped by Newcastle. Slapping week!"

Jamie O'Hara couldn't wait to get his revenge on Jason Cundy after Chelsea's nightmare week 🤣

[Matt Casey 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 @MattCas04807118]

The greatest Talksport call ever imo.
Schmeltz Herring, you wait until his wife joins in!👏👏

[Adam @AdamFulwell_]

Nothing beats the Sunderland alternative commentary for the 120+3 winner against Coventry last season 🤣

Absolute Chaos. #SAFC

[Footy Condor 🇪🇨 @FootyCondor]

Sunderland fans are in for a treat..

🍬 🇪🇨

[Tekkers Foot @tekkersfoot]

🚨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 BRIAN BROBBEY EQUALIZES FOR SUNDERLAND!

Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland.

https://t.co/4PwDyd4MJ8

[luke evans @levans1992]

@ALS_Fanzine I got a sweatshirt for christmas, am i able to pop in before the match tomorrow and exchange it for a cap and a scarf instead please?