Sunderland AFC: The 5 highest paid players at the Stadium of Light

This season, Sunderland hopes to contend for the Championship play-offs once more. The Black Cats made it to the play-offs after an incredible first season back in the second division, however they were defeated by Luton Town in the semifinals.

Although Sunderland had gotten off to a respectable start to the season, head coach Tony Mowbray was unexpectedly fired earlier this month due to a modest drop in performance.

Since Mowbray’s departure, Mike Dodds has taken interim leadership, and he has proven himself worthy of the permanent position thus far with some outstanding performances.

The Black Cats will probably continue to focus on young players, as they did in the summer, even if Mowbray voiced dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer policy before leaving. Whoever takes over at the Stadium of Light will be eager to make their mark on the team in January.

Sunderland – 2023/24 Signings
Player Name	Signed From	Loan/Permanent
Nazariy Rusyn	Zorya Lugansk	Permanent
Jenson Seelt	PSV	Permanent
Jobe Bellingham	Birmingham City	Permanent
Eliezer Mayenda	FC Sochaux	Permanent
Luis Semedo	Benfica B	Permanent
Nectarios Triantis	Central Coast	Permanent
Bradley Dack	Blackburn Rovers	Permanent
Timothee Pembele	PSG	Permanent
Adil Aouchiche	FC Lorient	Permanent
Nathan Bishop	Man United	Permanent
Mason Burstow	Chelsea	Loan

We examined the five best paid players at Sunderland at the moment as the transfer window draws near.

It should be emphasized that all numbers are estimates and are based on Capology.

We examined the five best paid players at Sunderland at the moment as the transfer window draws near.

It should be emphasized that all numbers are estimates and are based on Capology.

1. Jack Clarke

£16,923 a week

The highest paid player at Sunderland is winger Clarke, who makes £880,000 a year and £16,923 a week.

Before deciding to join the Black Cats permanently last summer, Clarke first joined the team on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2022. He had a fantastic season last year, making 50 appearances across all competitions and contributing 14 assists in addition to 11 goals.

Burnley, a Premier League team, had four bids for the 23-year-old rejected this summer, the last of which was more than £10 million. However, Football Insider reports that Burnley and Brentford are still interested in making a move before the January transfer market opens.

Although Sunderland will be eager to keep Clarke in January after his stellar start to the season, their resolve is probably going to be put to the test.

2. Bradley Dack

£15,000 a week

Dack, a midfielder with the Black Cats, is paid £15,000 a week and £780,000 annually, making him the team’s joint second highest paid player.

After being released by Blackburn Rovers, Dack signed with Sunderland in July, but he hasn’t been free of injuries since arriving at the Stadium of Light.

Dack, who is 29 years old, may not be a good fit for the Black Cats’ style of play, but he will be hoping to stay healthy for the rest of the season after returning from a thigh injury in October.

3. Dan Ballard

£15,000 a week

Ballard, a defender for Sunderland, earns £15,000 a week and £780,000 annually, making him the team’s joint-second-highest paid player.

After moving from Arsenal to the Stadium of Light in the summer, Ballard has become a vital member of the Black Cats’ squad.

The Northern Ireland international was only able to make 22 appearances across all competitions in the previous season, but this year he has been a consistent starter at the center of the defense with Luke O’Nien.

4. Dennis Cirkin

£10,000 a week

Co-third-highest paid player for the Black Cats is defender Cirkin, who makes £520,000 a year and £10,000 a week.

After going through the Tottenham Hotspur academy, Cirkin joined Sunderland in August 2021 without ever playing for the team as a senior.

In his debut season with the team, the 21-year-old assisted the Black Cats in their promotion from League One. In June of last year, he inked a new three-year contract, having been instrumental in the team’s play-off run.

5. Anthony Patterson

£10,000 a week

Goalkeeper Patterson, who makes £520,000 a year and £10,000 a week, is tied for third place among Sunderland’s top paid players.

After graduating from the Black Cats’ academy, Patterson became the team’s starting goalkeeper in 2021–2022 and helped them win promotion from League One.

The 23-year-old stepped up to the Championship with ease, and his performances did not go unnoticed. It is reported that Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City were interested in him. However, in September, he signed a contract that would keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2028, putting an end to rumors about his future.