How much do the Sunderland players earn annually and who receives the most into their account?
Sunderland have been striving to secure a return to the Premier League ever since their relegation at the end of the 2016-17 season. While the club has faced significant challenges in the years following their drop to the Championship, there is a renewed sense of optimism in recent seasons.
Following the lows of playing three seasons in League One, the Black Cats finished sixth and 16th in the past two seasons of the Championship.
Currently, Sunderland look comfortable for a top-six finish on the Championship table.
Key factors behind Sunderland's recent success include improvements in management, strategic transfer policies, and effective wage bill management. These elements have played a crucial role in enhancing the team's overall performance, providing hope that the club's Premier League ambitions are more realistic than ever.
So, who is the highest earner at the Stadium of Light this season? And who is on the opposite end of the spectrum?
GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!
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Goalkeepers
Sunderland's first-choice goalkeeper, 24-year-old Anthony Patterson, is currently the highest-earning keeper in the squad. Patterson has firmly established himself as Sunderland's undisputed number one goalkeeper, playing a key role in the team’s recent success.
Meanwhile, 34-year-old Simon Moore joined Sunderland from Coventry City ahead of the 2024-25 season and is currently the second-highest-paid goalkeeper in the squad, ahead of 24-year-old Cameroonian Blondy Nna Noukeu at the bottom of this three-man list.
| Name |
Salary |
| Anthony Patterson |
£520,000 |
| Simon Moore |
£364,000 |
| Blondy Nna Noukeu |
£312,000 |
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Defenders
Arriving on loan from Bournemouth, Welsh centre-back Chris Mepham is the highest-paid defender in the current Sunderland squad. Mepham is also the second-highest-paid player overall.
In second place is Daniel Ballard, another centre-back who has been a consistent presence in the starting lineup since joining the club in 2022. Completing the top three is left-back Dennis Cirkin, who has been a mainstay in the Black Cats' defense since making his debut in 2021 at just 19 years old.
Jenson Seelt, Joe Anderson, and Trai Hume are the joint-lowest paid defenders at the club.
| Name |
Salary |
| Chris Mepham |
£1,820,000 |
| Daniel Ballard |
£1,300,000 |
| Dennis Cirkin |
£520,000 |
| Luke O'Nien |
£390,000 |
| Aji Alese |
£312,000 |
| Niall Huggins |
£260,000 |
| Leo Fuhr Hjelde |
£260,000 |
| Jenson Seelt |
£156,000 |
| Joe Anderson |
£156,000 |
| Trai Hume |
£156,000 |
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Midfielders
Enzo Le Fee, who joined Sunderland on loan from Roma, is not only the highest-earning midfielder but also the highest-paid player overall, earning nearly double that of second-place Mepham.
In second place among the top-earning midfielders is 29-year-old Alan Browne. Rounding out the top three is Ghanaian midfielder Salis Abdul Samed, who joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from French side Lens.
Interestingly, Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of Jude Bellingham, is notably absent from the list of the club's highest earners. Despite rumors linking him to a potential move to Germany and interest from several Premier League clubs, Bellingham has yet to break into the top earners' ranks at Sunderland.
Youngsters Chris Rigg and Dan Neil are the lowest-paid midfielders at the Stadium of Light.
| Name |
Salary |
| Enzo Le Fee |
£3,510,000 |
| Alan Browne |
£780,000 |
| Salis Abdul Samed |
£780,000 |
| Jobe Bellingham |
£650,000 |
| Milan Aleksic |
£156,000 |
| Chris Rigg |
£78,000 |
| Dan Neil |
£70,000 |
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Attackers
After seven seasons contracted to Manchester City, which included several loan spells across Europe, English right-winger Patrick Roberts finally found a permanent home in the Championship with Sunderland, joining the club in 2022. Roberts is now the highest-paid attacker in the Sunderland squad, playing a pivotal role in the team's offensive play.
It's surprising to see that Wilson Isidor, who is the team's top scorer this term, isn't among the best-paid attackers. A case could also be made for the likes of Eliezer Mayenda and Romaine Mundle, who have been great for the Black Cats.
20-year-old Nigerian forward Ahmed Abdullahi is the lowest-paid Sunderland attacker.
| Name |
Salary |
| Patrick Roberts |
£650,000 |
| Ian Poveda |
£468,000 |
| Wilson Isidor |
£442,000 |
| Eliezer Mayenda |
£338,000 |
| Jewison Bennette |
£260,000 |
| Romaine Mundle |
£260,000 |
| Ahmed Abdullahi |
£104,000 |
| Tom Watson |
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