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Ben is an experienced sports journalist and senior editor at Football FanCast, specialising in transfer reporting, Premier League coverage and football analysis. He graduated with a Master's degree in Sports Journalism in 2017.
Ben has written for publications including the Liverpool Echo and the Lincolnshire Echo. Throughout his career, he has covered a range of sports, from American football to mixed martial arts, but his primary passion has always been football journalism.
Since joining Football FanCast in 2018, initially as a freelance writer covering clubs across the English football pyramid, Ben has established himself as one of the publication's leading transfer reporters. His expertise lies in assessing the credibility of transfer stories, analysing what they mean for clubs and supporters, and providing context behind football's biggest talking points. Along the way, he has built an extensive network of trusted sources across the football industry that strengthens both his reporting and editorial insight.
Today, Ben leads Football FanCast's news team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's football coverage while helping shape its editorial standards, transfer reporting and analysis.
Sunderland are into their second successive season back in the Premier League and are looking to build on a superb return to the top flight, with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and manager Regis Le Bris preparing for a season in European football.
After breaking their transfer record multiple times last summer, the Black Cats had a far quieter window this time around, with one key arrival the standout piece of business at the Stadium of Light.
Here, Football FanCast tracks every confirmed Sunderland signing and departure for the 2026/27 campaign.
New Sunderland Signings 2026/27
Player
Nationality
Previous Club
Fee
Malick Fofana
Belgium
Lyon
£31m
Dayann Methalie
France
Toulouse
£26m
Jules Ahoka
DR Congo
Royal Antwerp
£9m
Juan Riquelme Angulo
Ecuador
Independiente
Undisclosed
Kevin Danso
Austria
Tottenham
Loan
Thomas Meunier
Belgium
Lille
Free
Thomas Meunier joined on a free transfer from Lille, with the experienced Belgian full-back brought in to provide cover and know-how following Sunderland's promotion.
The Black Cats then enjoyed a late flurry in the summer window, welcoming Dayann Methalie and Jules Ahoka. Then, as deadline day arrived, so too did Kevin Danso, Juan Riquelme Angulo and Malick Fofana after much toing and throwing.
Sunderland Departures 2026/27
Player
Nationality
New Club
Fee
Eliezer Mayenda
Spain
Rennes
£21.5m
Anthony Patterson
England
Wrexham
£8m
Ahmed Abdullahi
Nigeria
Eyüpspor
£1m
Dan Neil
England
Rangers
Free
Timothee Pembele
France
Le Havre
Free
Nazariy Rusyn
Ukraine
Karpaty Lviv
Free
Harrison Jones
England
Peterborough United
Free
Dennis Cirkin
Latvia
Released
Free
Bertrand Traore
Burkina Faso
Released
Free
Niall Huggins
Wales
Released
Free
Milan Aleksic
Serbia
Partizan Belgrade
Loan
Eliezer Mayenda left for Rennes in what is now the Black Cats' third-biggest sale of all time, while Anthony Patterson's move to Wrexham could rise to £10m if add-ons are met.
Dan Neil joined Rangers on a free transfer, while Timothee Pembele, Nazariy Rusyn and Harrison Jones also departed for nothing, but the Black Cats did recoup a small fee for Ahmed Abdullahi.
Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traore and Niall Huggins were all released as free agents. Milan Aleksic has gone out on loan to Partizan Belgrade, with the 20-year-old winger hoping to break into the first-team once he returns next summer.
Who is Sunderland's Record Signing?
Sunderland's record signing is now Malick Fofana who joined from Lyon on deadline day for a fee of £31m.
The winger was left to choose between Crystal Palace and the Wearside club and eventually made his choice - handing the Black Cats a record deal at the death.
Sunderland's Top 10 Signings of All Time
Player
Fee (add ons included)
Signed From
Year
Malick Fofana
£31m
Lyon
2026
Habib Diarra
£27m
Strasbourg
2025
Dayann Methalie
£26m
Toulouse
2026
Simon Adingra
£21m
Brighton
2025
Enzo Le Fee
£19.3m
AS Roma
2025
Chemsdine Talbi
£18m
Club Brugge
2025
Brian Brobbey
£17.3m
Ajax
2025
Noah Sadiki
£15m
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
2025
Didier Ndong
£13.6m
Lorient
2016
Granit Xhaka
£13m
Bayer Leverkusen
2025
Who is Sunderland's Record Sale?
REUTERS/Lee Smith
Sunderland's record sale is Jobe Bellingham, sold to Borussia Dortmund in 2025 for £27.8m.
The younger brother of Jude Bellingham made 90 appearances for the Black Cats, including the Championship play-off final, before following in his brother's footsteps to Germany at just 19 years old.