Back in the Premier League after a long absence, Sunderland have wasted no time in trying to establish themselves as more than just relegation candidates.
In the summer, the club spent £141.5m – the second-highest spend by a promoted side in English football history, behind only Nottingham Forest in 2022.
That money brought in Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Chemsdine Talbi (Club Brugge), Noah Sadiki (Union SG), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), and Nordi Mukiele (PSG).
Such investment has been rewarded early.
With three wins from their opening fixtures, Sunderland sit fifth in the Premier League, a position even their most optimistic supporters could not have imagined at this stage.
The challenge ahead is sustaining that form, particularly with a trip to Old Trafford looming this weekend.
For all the headline arrivals, though – alongside the headline makers like three-goal hero, Wilson Isidor – it is perhaps the least expected of their summer deals that is proving to be the most significant.
Sunderland's previous £30m sensation
Sunderland fans know better than most the importance of having a goalkeeper who can make the difference at both club and international level.
Their academy produced Jordan Pickford, who emerged from a series of loans to displace Vito Mannone in 2016/17.
That season, Pickford was so impressive that he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, a rare honour for a keeper.
When Sunderland were relegated at the end of that campaign, Pickford became a prized asset.
Everton swooped with a £30m deal, which remains one of the most lucrative sales in the club’s history.
Since then, Pickford has made 325 appearances for Everton, keeping 91 clean sheets, and has established himself as England’s undisputed No.1 with 78 caps, producing defining moments in penalty shootouts at the World Cup and European Championships.
That legacy of homegrown excellence set the bar high for any future Sunderland keeper.
While most of the focus has been on flashy outfield signings this summer, it is the man between the posts who is beginning to capture the same kind of acclaim Pickford once did.
Sunderland's next £30m star in the making
Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, Robin Roefs has been nothing short of outstanding in his first Premier League season.
The 22-year-old Dutch youth international, with ten U21 caps to his name, has played every minute of Sunderland’s campaign so far – 540 minutes in total – and already has three clean sheets to his name.
Described by Andy Sixsmith as having had an “excellent start” to life at Sunderland – while being dubbed “absolutely awesome” by Kevin Phillips – Roefs has shown maturity beyond his years.
While he was at fault for a goal conceded against Aston Villa – palming a shot into the roof of his own net – his response since then has highlighted his resilience and temperament.
Statistically, he has been elite: a save percentage of 82.5% (99th percentile), a clean sheet rate of 50% (99th percentile), and a cross-stopping percentage of 10% (91st percentile).
A direct comparison with Pickford’s current numbers underlines the scale of his start, with the pair deemed to be statistically similar players, as per FBref.
Matches Played
6
6
Saves
18
11
Clean Sheets
3
2
Penalties Saved
1
1
Last season, Roefs averaged 3.0 saves per 90 minutes, compared to Pickford’s 1.83. His save percentage of 82.6% far outstrips Pickford’s 72.2%, and he has conceded just 0.67 goals per 90 against Pickford’s 1.0.
Even in clean sheet percentage, Roefs comes out on top—50% to 33.3%.
It is no surprise, then, that Roefs has also been likened in style to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, as per Fbref, both keepers renowned for combining strong shot-stopping with modern distribution.
For Sunderland, having a player of that calibre between the sticks provides a foundation for their survival hopes and long-term ambitions.
Supporters may have expected their big-money forwards or high-profile midfield additions to steal the spotlight, with Isidor certainly flourishing despite the step up, but it is Robin Roefs who has been their standout.
Just as Pickford’s rise once brought Sunderland significant acclaim and financial reward, there is already a sense that Roefs could follow a similar path—both in terms of on-field impact and, in time, market value.
At only 22, Sunderland may already have unearthed their most important signing of the summer.
