SUNDERLAND, June 27. Kristjaan Speakman helped rebuild Sunderland from a League One side into a Premier League club capable of European qualification, but his transfer record includes a catalogue of arrivals that failed to make the grade.
The former sporting director, now headed to F.C. Copenhagen, signed 57 players during his four and a half years on Wearside. While the successes, Enzo Le Fée, Wilson Isidor, and Régis Le Bris’s promotion winning squad transformed the club’s trajectory, the misses were often costly, both in financial and sporting terms. Here, we rank the 10 worst signings of the Speakman era.
10. Ahmed Abdullahi
This one is perhaps a little harsh. The Norwegian forward cost €1.5 million two years ago, but has not yet played for the first team, making the bench only twice. At 22, he is older than several first team regulars, yet his six appearances for the U21s have yielded six goals. There are two years remaining on his contract for him to earn playing time or at least improve his transfer value.
9. Jayden Danns
Zero. Nada. Zilch. That is how much Danns played for Sunderland after a back injury showed up during his medical. The Liverpool loanee never featured for the Black Cats, barely visiting the club and rehabbing with his parent club. A complete write off.
8. Jewison Bennette
The Costa Rican winger captured hearts with his flair, including a memorable triple pirouette, but the return on investment was modest. Twenty one appearances, two starts, two goals, and a reported €500,000 fee recouped against an initial €1.30 million outlay. A cult hero, but not a successful transfer.
7. Milan Aleksic
This one stings. Aleksic’s €3.50 million fee was the third highest under Speakman, behind only Le Fée and Isidor. Yet in two years, the Serbian managed only 10 appearances. He is now on loan to Partizan Belgrade with an option to buy, meaning some of that outlay may yet be recovered.
6. Nazariy Rusyn
Costing slightly less than Aleksic at €2.50 million, the Ukrainian striker fared marginally better with more goal contributions and more minutes. He has one year left on his contract, and Sunderland may or may not recoup anything for him.
5. Timothée Pembélé
Arrived on deadline day in 2023 with Paris Saint Germain pedigree for €1.0 million. Despite the background, Pembélé never established himself, appearing only eight times for a total of 287 minutes. Two loan spells to Le Havre followed, and he has two years left on his contract.
4. Jermain Defoe
The return of a club legend in February 2022 was meant to inspire. Instead, it was a shockingly unproductive reunion: seven matches, 249 minutes, no goals, and a sudden retirement. A sentimental move that backfired spectacularly.
3. Joe Anderson
Signed from Everton in January 2023 for an undisclosed fee, Anderson managed only seven appearances and 228 minutes. A loan to Shrewsbury and a move to Barrow followed, where he was relegated to the National League. He has since joined Accrington Stanley after a mutual termination.
2. Ian Poveda
The Colombian winger arrived on a free transfer, but concerns over his wages were immediate. Sunderland got one start, six appearances, and 81 minutes in return. Unable to offload him in the autumn, the club finally pushed him on to Internacional de Bogotá in February for an undisclosed fee.
1. Isaac Lihadji
The French winger signed from Lille in January 2023 for an undisclosed fee. He made the squad 13 times, appeared six times, played 79 minutes, and lasted less than seven months before departing for AlDuhail SC in Qatar. Speakman spun his departure positively, but it remains the most forgettable signing of his tenure.
