{"id":237745,"date":"2026-04-10T08:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/1m-star-was-like-the-next-defoe-now-he-looks-finished-at-sunderland\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T08:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:10:12","slug":"1m-star-was-like-the-next-defoe-now-he-looks-finished-at-sunderland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/1m-star-was-like-the-next-defoe-now-he-looks-finished-at-sunderland\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a31m star was like the next Defoe, now he looks finished at Sunderland"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Just like the recent fuel prices in the United Kingdom, Sunderland Football Club<\/a> have reached some unimaginable highs in the Premier League<\/a> throughout 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From doing the double over Newcastle United to wins away at the likes of Chelsea, it truly has been a campaign to remember for the Black Cats supporters.<\/p>\n

However, as seen at many petrol stations across the country, the demand is getting higher and higher as weeks pass, something which Regis Le Bris<\/a> is also having to deal with at the Stadium of Light.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

With the club above their Tyne-Wear rivals and looking set for another year in the top-flight, it\u2019s down to the 50-year-old to provide the continued success the fans have become accustomed to.<\/p>\n

The board will no doubt spend big again this window to fuel the progress made under the Frenchman, but they will do well to land a player who captured the hearts of the fans like Jermain Defoe<\/a> did.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n The stats behind Jermain Defoe\u2019s success at Sunderland<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Back in January 2015, Sunderland secured the services of the former England international from Toronto FC, with flop Jozy Altidore moving in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"fabio-borini-sunderland-defoe\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He would spend two-and-a-half years in the senior ranks on Wearside, finding the back of the net 37 times for the Black Cats in his 93 appearances across all competitions.<\/p>\n

His efforts saw him immediately become a fan-favourite at the Stadium of Light, even managing to register 15 goals in two separate campaigns in the top-flight.<\/p>\n

Defoe\u2019s efforts off the field also saw him capture the hearts of the fanbase, with the striker playing a massive part in the life of young supporter Bradley Lowery.<\/p>\n

The now-retired forward was unable to keep the club in the top-division despite his incredible goalscoring form, which resulted in his departure in the summer of 2017.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Jermain-Defoe\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He still sits second in the club\u2019s all-time Premier League goalscoring charts, with his impact on and off the field forever making him a club legend in the North East.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Defoe-esque Sunderland man could be finished at Stadium of Light<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

After securing a return to the top-flight, it was crucial that Sunderland spent big on various areas of the squad to give themselves the best chance of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.<\/p>\n

Brian Brobbey was signed from Ajax for a reported \u00a321m including add-ons, with the Dutchman tasked with providing the goods – just as Defoe did during the last spell in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\n\"Sunderland\n <\/picture>\n

\n
\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tSunderland’s most expensive signings of all time
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t<\/h5>\n

Who is the Black Cats’ record addition?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The 24-year-old has already netted six times so far this term, with his latest goal against local rivals Newcastle securing bragging rights for the supporters.<\/p>\n

Whilst he still has a long way to go before emulating the levels produced by the Englishman, he\u2019s certainly made an excellent start to his career on Wearside.<\/p>\n

However, one other player in the squad was starting to look like the next Defoe at the Stadium of Light, with full-back Dennis Cirkin<\/a> following in the attacker\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n

The Latvian international joined from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported \u00a31m back in the summer of 2021 – a side that the striker previously played for in his career.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Dennis-Cirkin\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Like Defoe, he made an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light, subsequently featuring 41 times during his debut campaign with the club down in League One.<\/p>\n

He remained a consistent first-team starter during the Championship years, even amassing 39 appearances last term during the promotion-winning campaign.<\/p>\n

However, he\u2019s been a victim of the club\u2019s heavy investment in recent times, with the 24-year-old falling behind summer addition Reinildo in Le Bris\u2019 pecking order.<\/p>\n

Cirkin has now only amassed a total of seven league appearances this campaign, with only three of which coming from a starting role – with his last start coming back in January.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Fewest PL minutes played for Sunderland (2025\/26)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Minutes<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Dan Neil<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Patrick Roberts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Jocelin Ta Bi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Arthur Masuaku<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

127<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Jenson Seelt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

134<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Luke O’Nien<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

227<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Nilson Angulo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

257<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Melker Ellborg<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

270<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Dennis Cirkin<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

302<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Romaine Mundle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

After his rise with the Black Cats, the former Spurs star will no doubt be disappointed with his lack of action, which could lead to a summer departure for pastures new.<\/p>\n

His current deal is set to expire this summer, but it still remains unclear whether the hierarchy will offer the left-back a new deal or allow him to depart on a free transfer.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Sunderland's\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The form of Reinildo has certainly restricted his senior minutes this term, with Cirkin needing consistent minutes to continue his development at the top level.<\/p>\n

Should he depart, it would be a sad sight to see, especially considering the work he put in to help the club rise from the depths of League One back to the Premier League.<\/p>\n

However, like with Defoe, all good things sadly come to an end, and it\u2019s the hierarchy undoubtedly targeting added reinforcements to bolster the squad during the summer.<\/p>\n

\n\"amad-diallo-sunderland-transfer-gossip-championship-mahrez-southampton\"\n <\/picture>\n

\n
\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tSunderland must sell \u00a35m star who was their best signing since Amad
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t<\/h5>\n

Sunderland must cash in on this star who was once their best signing since Amad Diallo.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just like the recent fuel prices in the United Kingdom, Sunderland Football Club have reached some unimaginable highs in the Premier League throughout 2025\/26. From doing the double over Newcastle United to wins away at the likes of Chelsea, it truly has been a campaign to remember for the Black Cats supporters. However, as seen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":237746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6808],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-237745","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/237746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}