With the summer window Slamming Shut™ at 11pm on Tuesday 1 September, it allowed supporters and the members of staff at Sunderland to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Black Cats introduced five new permanent signings and one loan signing over the 79-day window, and I will now break down where our six new boys have come from and where they will fit in for the line-up.
Thomas Meunier
Signed from LOSC Lille, Meunier is a serial winner across Europe and a seasoned Belgian international. The 34-year-old has won a total of
13 trophies, including one quadruple and three trebles with PSG, a DFB-Pokal and the Belgian League and Cup. He brings pace, strength and experience to our backline, something they already have in abundance; however, you can never have too much of any of those elements. Thomas brings depth to the right-back position and can compete with Trai Hume and Nordi Mukiele for that spot. He has started the last two Premier League matches and has become a fast fan favourite on Wearside.
Dayann Methalie
Methalie plays primarily as a left-back but can slot into a left-wing-back or left-wing role if needed.
This covers a lot of depth over the left flank and can compete with Reinildo Mandava for that left full-back berth. The 20-year-old came through Toulouse’s academy and had his breakthrough season during 25/26, starting 30 out of 31 matches and making 114 defensive contributions in the process. With some major experience at left-back for Sunderland already, Methalie can learn from our seasoned full-backs and hone his defensive skills at the very highest level in the Premier League and the Europa League.
Jules Ahoka
Ahoka is a Royal Antwerp academy graduate and has made four senior appearances for the 2023 Belgian First Division A winners. He joins Sunderland as an exciting young prospect who plays in holding midfield and can cover pretty much everywhere in the middle of the park.
Kevin Danso
Danso has signed on a season-long loan with Sunderland from North London side Tottenham Hotspur. He won the Europa League with Spurs in 2025, so the centre-back will have great knowledge of how to go deep in the competition. He appeared eight times for Spurs in the Champions League in 25/26.
Kevin made 135 clearances last season in the Premier League, racking up a total of 198 defensive contributions and winning over 60% of his duels.
The Austrian international can compete with Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Nordi Mukiele and Luke O’Nien for a spot at centre-half.
Malick Fofana
Fofana was a main topic of discussion during deadline day as the player had a choice between Sunderland and Crystal Palace when leaving Lyon, with the deal coming to a standstill at points, but finally the player chose red and white and we got our sought-after winger.
The Belgian winger can play on both flanks, prefers his right foot and can swiftly switch sides and dribble effectively with both feet. He has briefly been utilised as a number ten or a false nine, but his position is on the left wing – likely leaving the likes of Chemsdine Talbi, Nilson Angulo, Romaine Mundle, Jocelin Ta Bi, Chris Rigg and Trai Hume to fight it out on the other side.
Juan Angulo
Angulo, no relation to Nilson, plays as a striker. The 6’4″ 18-year-old Ecuadorian number nine joins Sunderland from his boyhood club Independiente del Valle and, during the 2026 season, he scored six goals and assisted three in 21 games, earning an international call-up.
He can compete with and learn from Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor. SAFC targeted a third striker to add to their ranks for depth in the four competitions we will be competing in this season.
