Top Ten: Sunderland's best ever January signings

Sunderland haven't always got January signings right, but when they have it has been glorious.

Michael Graham | Jan 2, 2024

Top Ten: Sunderland's best ever January signings /

Transfer windows haven’t always been kind to Sunderland. These days the club seem to be very much on top of the recruitment side of things, and it still feels a bit weird.

Until recently, most people would probably have described Sunderland as pretty bad at transfers.

I mean, Sunderland are the club who signed Danny Graham. Twice. Sunderland are the club who brought Will Buckley and Liam Bridcutt to the Premier League. Sunderland are the club who thought Donald Love was a top division footballer.

January in particular has had some horrendous horror stories. Will Grigg springs to mind. Kazenga Lua-Lua. Lee Camp. Oh god, Lee Camp.

However, there have also been some absolutely brilliant January signings to remember too, players who have made a genuine impact, whether it was in the short-term or for a longer period.

So, let’s run through what we consider to be Sunderland’s ten best ever January signings - including two members of the current squad.

10. Jan Kirchhoff

Jan Kirchhoff was an absolute Rolls Royce of a midfielder. Sadly, he was made of glass. He debut at Spurs was atrocious, but he played an enormous part in keeping Sunderland up under Sam Allardyce.

There was, in the end, a lot of unfulfilled promise with Kirchhoff. Had Allardyce stayed, it would have probably been very different, but you can say that about just about everything from that time.

9. Ross Stewart

Stewart arrived from Ross County in 2021 for just £300,000. What a steal. He would be higher in the list had he made an immediate impact, but it was the following season when he really proved his worth.

Like Kirchhoff, injury appears to have robbed Stewart of his best years, but Sunderland did well to cash in on him amid all that. He left for Southampton in a £10million deal last summer, but has made just two appearances, both from the bench, and is now out again for the rest of the season.

8. Carlos Edwards

Such a good signing that when a Sunderland promotion bid appeared to be faltering, he scored from the banks of the Wear. Edwards was yet another one who was robbed of a longer Sunderland career by injury, but his impact was lasting.

In full flight, very few Sunderland wingers were able to get you off your seat like Carlos Edwards. He was direct, quick and you never knew when he was going to score a worldie.

7. Marcos Alonso

From the moment Marcos Alonso arrived on loan from Fiorentina, you could see his pedigree. It's no surprise to have seen him have such a good career, and he brought a lot to Sunderland in the brief time he was here.

For whatever reason, Sunderland opted not to put an option to buy into the loan deal when they really should have.

6. Lamine Kone

Sunderland fans had been desperate for a centre-back like Lamine Kone for years. Sam Allardyce finally provided one. It's a shame he turned out to be a bit of a bad apple, but he was brilliant when he first came and vital in keeping Sunderland up.

Again, we probably have to put Kone in the 'if only Sam Allardyce had stayed' category.

5. Phil Bardsley

Phil Bardsley is one of the most popular players in recent Sunderland history and with good reason. He gave the club some great moments and years of 'heart-on-your-sleeve service.

He also gave Sunderland real loyalty and was a perfect fit for the DNA of the club. Bardsley was not the most technical of players, but he was always the most committed and honest one on the pitch.

4. Stephane Sessegnon

I've seen countless players at Sunderland, but few as brilliant to watch as Stephane Sessegnon. He brought joy from the minute he arrived from PSG right up until the moment he left. A class act with the ball at his feet.

The Benin international was quality and arguably the best thing that Steve Bruce ever did for Sunderland.

3. Danny Batth

In terms of talent, Danny Batth shouldn't be this high. In terms of importance, he absolutely should be. Getting out of League One was everything, and it's hard to imagine that happening without adding him to the squad in January 2022.

Not only did Batth help get Sunderland promoted but he was the player of the year as they re-established themselves in the Championship too.

2. Jonny Evans

Evans was actually signed twice by Sunderland in January and both times made a huge contribution. He first helped Roy Keane's side get promoted and then was vital in them surviving that first year back in the Premier League too.

His little brother Corry is the current club captain too, which is nice.

1. Jermain Defoe

Another one who was a January signing twice, although we can all agree now that he shouldn't have come back.

The first time, though... wow. He scored goals, lots of them, brilliant ones, and all he cost was one Jozy Altidore. Unreal.