(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)

Ben Palmer

Sun 17 August 2025 9:00, UK

Sunderland have spent lavishly on their return to the Premier League but they won’t be having any issues with PSR.

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That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that the club’s investment in academy players was paying dividends.

Sunderland bested Sheffield United in the playoff final in May, reclaiming their place in England’s top-flight after an eight-year absence.

When the Black Cats dropped out of the Premier League nearly a decade ago, they went down with players on huge contracts, such as Jack Rodwell and Didier Ndong.

Granit Xhaka joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

The financial strain of the top-flight contracts played a part in Sunderland tumbling down the League One.

However, in their time away from the Premier League, the Black Cats have invested heavily into their youth set-up, which has allowed them to spend over £140million [transfermarkt] on new players this summer.

Habib Diarra was signed for a club-record fee from Strasbourg, whilst Simon Adingra joined from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons [BBC Sport].

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This article contains exclusive comment from Dan Plumley, a football finance expert and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.

Sunderland began the summer by selling Tommy Watson to Brighton, whilst Jobe Bellingham also departed to Borussia Dortmund.

The young English winger came through the club’s academy, meaning the fee accrued was pure profit on the Black Cats’ accounting books.

Jobe Bellingham’s stats in the 2024/25 season.

(Credit: Imago)

Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, Plumley explained: “If you look at their projected [PSR limit], and it’s all estimates, but if you look at PSR, it’s not a problem.

“Because actually, if you look at some of the investments they’ve made in the academy, and things like that, there’s a high chance they’re in PSR profit going into the Premier League.

“Forest [when they achieved promotion in 2022] weren’t as an example.”

The Black Cats could be set to continue their summer rebuild by recruiting a Juventus target this summer.

Sunderland are interested in Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley, their former chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider exclusively.

Matt O’Riley may be on the move this summer.