How do Sunderland compare to the best promoted teams in Premier League history?

Cameron Smith

• 27 Oct 2025 13:31 GMT
• 5 min read

Analysis

The gulf between the Premier League and the Championship has seen promoted teams struggle immensely in the top flight over the past few years, but it looks entirely different in 2025-26.

Burnley and Leeds United have both picked up three wins from their opening nine league matches and are closer to Chelsea in ninth than Nottingham Forest in 18th, while Sunderland have enjoyed a simple sublime start to the new season.

Current ETV

Granit Xhaka 

DM, M (C)

Sunderland

Granit Xhaka 

DM, M (C)

Sunderland

€17.6M

ETV Range

€15.8M - €19.3M

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Regis Le Bris’ side earned promotion back to the English top flight thanks to a 95th minute winner from Tommy Watson in the Championship Play-Off Final versus Sheffield United in May, and the Black Cats implemented a bold transfer strategy over the summer.

A total of 15 players arrived at the Stadium of Light before the end of Transfer Deadline Day, with only nine clubs in world football spending more than Sunderland’s €187.9 million.

While a major squad overhaul has often stunted the development of promoted teams, it’s had the opposite effect for Sunderland.

The likes of Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele and Granit Xhaka have all excelled following their arrivals this summer, and Sunderland’s carefully-curated transfer plan has reaped significant rewards.

They earned a valiant 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a stoppage time winner from Chemsdine Talbi, and the result briefly left them in second place in the Premier League table.

Other results have seen them drop to fourth, but Sunderland’s tally of 17 points from their opening nine matches is simply excellent, and it means they remain within touching distance of league leaders Arsenal.

But, how do the Black Cats compare to the best promoted teams since the Premier League era began in 1992?

Sunderland vs the best promoted teams in Premier League history

Sunderland’s points tally of 17 from their first nine games is the sixth-highest of any promoted club during the Premier League era, and the best since the 2008-09 campaign.

Nottingham Forest lead the way after accruing 21 points across their opening nine fixtures in the 1994-95 season, while Hull City are second after racking up 20 points in 2008-09.

Wigan Athletic had picked up 19 points by the end of their ninth Premier League match during the 2005-06 campaign and they are narrowly ahead of both Middlesbrough (1995-96) and Blackburn Rovers (1992-93) on 18 points.

Sunderland’s 2025-26 side are joint-sixth, equal with the Black Cats’ team from 1999-2000, who ended the season in seventh place.

Forest ended the season in third place following their electric start in 1994-95, while Blackburn finished fourth during the 1992-93 campaign. However, fellow fast starters Wigan, Middlesbrough and Hull finished 10th, 12th and 17th respectively.

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