2022–23 Sunderland A.F.C. season explained

Club:	Sunderland
Season:	2022–23
Owner:	Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Chairman:	Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Manager:	Alex Neil (until 28 August)^[1] Tony Mowbray (from 30 August)^[2]
Stadium:	Stadium of Light
League:	Championship
League Result:	6th
Cup1:	Play-offs
Cup1 Result:	Semi-finals
Cup2:	FA Cup
Cup2 Result:	Fourth round
Cup3:	EFL Cup
Cup3 Result:	First round
League Topscorer:	Amad (13)
Season Topscorer:	Amad (14)
Lowest Attendance:	35,900 vs Blackpool 29,651 vs Fulham
Average Attendance:	39,140
Largest Win:	3–0 v Rotherham (H) 0–3 v Reading (A) 3–0 v Millwall (H) 1–4 v Wigan Athletic (A) 0–3 v Queens Park Rangers (A) 0–3 v Preston North End (A)
Largest Loss:	1–5 v Stoke City (H)
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Prevseason:	2021–22
Nextseason:	2023–24

The 2022–23 season was Sunderland's 144th season in their existence, and the club's first season back in the Championship since the 2017–18 season, following their promotion via the play-offs in the previous season. In addition to the league, they also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

The club finished sixth in the Championship, and were defeated by Luton Town in the play off semi-finals.

First team squad

Squad No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Age	Ends	Signed from	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	Anthony Patterson		GK		2026	Academy	67	0
12	Alex Bass		GK		2025	Portsmouth	2	0
Defenders
2	Niall Huggins		RB		2025	Leeds United	6	0
3	Dennis Cirkin		LB		2024	Tottenham Hotspur	63	2
5	Daniel Ballard		CB		2025	Arsenal	22	0
6	Danny Batth		CB		2023	Stoke City	49	1
26	Bailey Wright		CB		2024	Bristol City	107	4
32	Trai Hume		RB		2026	Linfield	27	0
42	Aji Alese		CB		2025	West Ham United	23	1
45	Joe Anderson		CB		2026	Everton	1	0
Midfielders
4	Corry Evans		CM		2023	Blackburn Rovers	64	2
7	Leon Dajaku		RW		2024	Union Berlin	36	4
8	Elliot Embleton		AM		2025	Academy	92	11
10	Patrick Roberts		RW		2024	Manchester City	55	6
11	Lynden Gooch		AM		2024	Academy	235	25
13	Luke O'Nien		CM		2024	Wycombe Wanderers	212	17
15	Carl Winchester		CM		2023	Forest Green Rovers	67	4
16	Amad		RW		2023	Manchester United (loan)	32	9
17	Abdoullah Ba		CM		2027	Le Havre	25	1
18	Ellis Taylor		LW		2024	Academy	4	0
19	Jewison Bennette		LW		2026	Herediano	18	2
20	Jack Clarke		LW		2026	Tottenham Hotspur	60	10
21	Alex Pritchard		AM		2023	Huddersfield Town	80	6
22	Isaac Lihadji		RW		2025	Lille	3	0
23	Jack Diamond		LW		2024	Academy	45	2
24	Dan Neil		CM		2026	Academy	94	6
25	Edouard Michut		CM		2023	Paris Saint-Germain (loan)	20	1
27	Jay Matete		CM		2026	Fleetwood Town	25	0
29	Harrison Sohna		CM		2023	Aston Villa	4	0
31	Chris Rigg		CM		2024	Academy	3	0
33	Michael Spellman		LW		2023	Chester-le-Street United	1	0
34	Caden Kelly		CM		2024	Academy	2	0
39	Pierre Ekwah		CM		2027	West Ham United	9	0
Forwards
9	Ellis Simms		ST		2023	Everton (loan)	17	7
14	Ross Stewart		ST		2023	Ross County	81	40
28	Joe Gelhardt		ST		2023	Leeds United (loan)	10	1

Transfers

In

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2022					Undisclosed	^[3]
1 July 2022					Undisclosed	^[4]
1 July 2022					Free Transfer	^[5]
9 July 2022					Undisclosed	^[6]
15 July 2022					Undisclosed	^[7]
22 July 2022			Ben Crompton		Free Transfer
22 July 2022			Owen Robinson		Free Transfer
22 July 2022					Undisclosed	^[8]
22 July 2022					Free Transfer
26 July 2022					Undisclosed	^[9]
12 August 2022			Connor Pye		Undisclosed	^[10]
12 August 2022			Tom Chiabi		Free Transfer
25 August 2022					Undisclosed	^[11]
31 August 2022					Undisclosed	^[12]
23 January 2023					Undisclosed	^[13]
27 January 2023					Undisclosed	^[14]
31 January 2023					Undisclosed	^[15]
13 April 2023			Timur Tuterov		Free Transfer	^[16]

Out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
30 June 2022					Released	^[17]
30 June 2022					Released	^[18]
30 June 2022			Luke Chapman	Unattached	Released
30 June 2022					Released	^[19]
30 June 2022				Unattached	Released
30 June 2022			Ugonna Emenike		Released	^[20]
30 June 2022					Released	^[21]
30 June 2022					Released	^[22]
30 June 2022					Released	^[23]
30 June 2022			Sam Irons		Released	^[24]
30 June 2022					Released	^[25]
30 June 2022			Jack McIntyre		Released	^[26]
30 June 2022					Released	^[27]
30 June 2022			Lachraj Singh	Unattached	Released
30 June 2022			Vinnie Steels		Released	^[28]
30 June 2022					Released	^[29]
30 June 2022			Sam Wilding		Released	^[30]
30 June 2022					Released	^[31]
30 June 2022					Released	^[32]
7 July 2022			Sonny Singh		Undisclosed	^[33]
5 January 2023					Released	^[34]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
29 July 2022					31 December 2022	^[35] ^[36]
30 August 2022					End of Season	^[37]
31 August 2022					End of Season	^[38]
27 January 2023					End of Season	^[39]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
28 July 2022					31 December 2022	^[40] ^[41]
29 August 2022					30 March 2023	^[42] ^[43]
1 September 2022					End of Season	^[44]
23 September 2022					23 October 2022	^[45]
6 January 2023					End of Season	^[46]
26 January 2023					End of Season	^[47]
27 January 2023			Nathan Newall		End of Season	^[48]
31 January 2023					End of Season	^[49]
4 February 2023					End of Season	^[50]
21 February 2023			Connor Pye		21 March 2023	^[51]
27 February 2023			Owen Robinson		27 March 2023	^[52]
7 March 2023			Tom Chiabi		8 May 2023	^[53]
23 March 2023			Harry Gardiner		End of Season	^[54]
23 March 2023					End of Season	^[55]
23 March 2023			Adam Richardson		End of Season
24 March 2023			Tom Scott		End of Season	^[56]

Pre-season and friendlies

Sunderland announced they would travel to Portugal for a training camp which would include two pre-season friendlies.^[57] On 8 June, the club announced seven pre-season friendlies.^[58] A further addition to the Portugal tour schedule was confirmed, against Roma.^[59]

Competitions

Championship

See main article: 2022–23 EFL Championship.

Matches

On 23 June, the league fixtures were announced.^[60]

Play-offs

See main article: 2023 English Football League play-offs.

Sunderland finished 6th in the regular 2022–23 EFL Championship season, so were drawn against 3rd placed Luton Town in the Play-off Semi Final. The first leg took place at the Stadium of Light and the second leg took place at Kenilworth Road.

FA Cup

See main article: 2022–23 FA Cup.

The Black Cats were drawn away to Shrewsbury Town in the third round^[61] and to Fulham in the fourth round.^[62]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2022–23 EFL Cup.

Sunderland were drawn away to Sheffield Wednesday in the first round.^[63]

Player statistics

Appearance summary

|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Goalkeepers|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Defenders|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Midfielders|-! colspan="18" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Forwards|}

Goals record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name				Total
1	16		RW	Amad	13	0	0	13
2	14		ST		10	1	0	11
	20		LW		7	2	0	9
3	9		ST	Ellis Simms	7	0	0	7
4	10		RW	Patrick Roberts	4	0	0	4
5	21		AM	Alex Pritchard	3	0	0	3
6	3		LB	Dennis Cirkin	2	0	0	2
	8		AM	Elliot Embleton	2	0	0	2
	13		CM	Luke O'Nien	1	1	0	2
	19		LW	Jewison Bennette	1	1	0	2
	24		CM	Dan Neil	2	0	0	2
7	11		AM	Lynden Gooch	1	0	0	1
	17		CM	Abdoullah Ba	1	0	0	1
	25		CM	Edouard Michut	1	0	0	1
	28		ST	Joe Gelhardt	1	0	0	1
	42		CB	Aji Alese	1	0	0	1
Total					53	5	0	58

Penalties record

Excludes penalties taken during Penalty shoot-outs.

Rank! rowspan="2"

No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	Championship		FA Cup		EFL Cup		Total		Conversion Ratio
Scored				Missed	Scored	Missed	Scored	Missed	Scored	Missed
1	14		ST		2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	67%
	16		RW	Amad	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	100%
Total					4	1	0	0	0	0	4	1	80%

Assists record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name				Total
1	20		LW		6	1	0	7
2	10		RW	Patrick Roberts	5	0	0	5
3	21		AM	Alex Pritchard	4	0	0	4
	24		CM	Dan Neil	4	0	0	4
4	14		ST		3	0	0	3
	16		RW	Amad	3	1	0	4
5	8		AM	Elliot Embleton	2	0	0	2
	9		ST	Ellis Simms	2	0	0	2
	11		AM	Lynden Gooch	2	0	0	2
	28		ST	Joe Gelhardt	2	0	0	2
	32		RB	Trai Hume	2	0	0	2
6	1		GK	Anthony Patterson	1	0	0	1
	3		LB	Dennis Cirkin	1	0	0	1
	5		CB	Daniel Ballard	1	0	0	1
	6		CB	Danny Batth	1	0	0	1
	13		CM	Luke O'Nien	1	0	0	1
	17		CM	Abdoullah Ba	1	0	0	1
	19		LW	Jewison Bennette	1	0	0	1
	42		CB	Aji Alese	0	1	0	1
Total					41	3	0	44

Disciplinary record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	Championship						EFL Cup			Total
1	13		CM	Luke O'Nien	7	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	1
2	4		CM	Corry Evans	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0
	20		LW	Jack Clarke	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0
3	3		LB	Dennis Cirkin	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
	6		CB	Danny Batth	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
	11		AM	Lynden Gooch	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
	24		CM	Dan Neil	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	1
4	8		AM	Elliot Embleton	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	1
	32		RB	Trai Hume	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
5	10		RW	Patrick Roberts	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	21		AM	Alex Pritchard	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	27		CM	Jay Matete	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
6	5		CB	Daniel Ballard	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	25		CM	Edouard Michut	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
7	16		RW	Amad	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	19		LW	Jewison Bennette	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	26		CB	Bailey Wright	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	42		CB	Aji Alese	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
8	1		GK	Anthony Patterson	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	2		RB	Niall Huggins	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	15		CM	Carl Winchester	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
	17		CM	Abdoullah Ba	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	39		CM	Pierre Ekwah	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total					80	0	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	83	0	3

Notes and References

1. News: Alex Neil leaves Sunderland . 28 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 28 August 2022.
2. Web site: Tony Mowbray: Sunderland appoint former West Brom and Blackburn manager as boss . . 30 August 2022. 30 August 2022.
3. News: SAFC sign Daniel Ballard . 1 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 1 July 2022.
4. News: 2022-23: Retained list confirmed . 26 May 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 25 May 2022.
5. News: Spellman signs on Wearside . 11 June 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 11 June 2022.
6. News: Jack Clarke signs four-year deal . 9 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 9 July 2022.
7. News: Alese arrives from West Ham United . 15 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 15 July 2022 . Arabic.
8. News: Young quartet sign for the Lads . 22 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 22 July 2022.
9. News: Alex Bass signs for SAFC . 26 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 26 July 2022.
10. News: Pye and Chiabi complete moves . 12 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 12 August 2022.
11. News: Jewison Bennette signs for SAFC . 25 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 25 August 2022.
12. News: Abdoullah Ba joins SAFC . 31 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 31 August 2022.
13. News: Pierre Ekwah signs for Sunderland . 23 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 23 January 2023.
14. News: Isaac Lihadji joins SAFC . 27 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 27 January 2023.
15. News: Joe Anderson arrives from Everton . 31 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 31 January 2023.
16. News: Timur Tutierov completes SAFC move . 20 April 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 13 April 2023.
17. News: Patrick Almond Signs Dual Registration . 13 December 2022 . Shildon AFC . 13 December 2022.
18. News: Keeper Lee Burge Becomes Fourth New Addition Of The Summer . 22 June 2022 . Northampton Town FC . 22 June 2022.
19. News: Cieran signs on at Balmoral stadium . 13 August 2022 . Cove Rangers FC . 13 August 2022.
20. News: Welcome Ugonna . 12 August 2022 . BowersPitseaFC Twitter . 12 August 2022.
21. News: Will Grigg comes home . 14 July 2022 . Milton Keynes Dons FC . 14 July 2022.
22. News: Broadfield United - Nicky Gyimah . 20 September 2022 . Broadfields United FC . 20 September 2022.
23. Web site: Will Harris signs . Gateshead FC . 29 July 2022 . 29 July 2022.
24. News: Welcome to Whitley Bay Sam . 24 July 2022 . WhitleyBayFC Twitter . 24 July 2022.
25. News: Aiden McGeady joins Hibernian F.C. . 25 June 2022 . Hibernian FC . 24 June 2022.
26. News: Goalkeeper Jack McIntyre signs on at Inver . 21 June 2022 . Larne FC . 21 June 2022.
27. Web site: Kenton Richardson signs . Gateshead FC . 9 June 2022 . 10 June 2022.
28. News: Vinnie Steels signs for Shildon . 1 August 2022 . Shildon AFC . 1 August 2022.
29. News: Wearne is a Mariner! . 27 June 2022 . Grimsby Town FC . 27 June 2022.
30. News: Wilding Joins Pitmen . 3 August 2022 . Hednesford Town FC . 3 August 2022.
31. News: Jordan joins. Welcome to Wycombe, Jordan. 11 February 2023 . Wycombe Wanderers FC . 11 February 2023.
32. News: Neuer Innenver-Teidiger Fur Den FC Vaduz . 5 August 2022 . FC Vaduz . 5 August 2022.
33. News: Trio link up with U21s . 7 July 2022 . Stoke City FC . 7 July 2022.
34. News: Jordan Willis leaves SAFC . 5 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 5 January 2023.
35. News: Ellis Simms signs for SAFC . 29 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 29 July 2022.
36. News: Simms returns to Everton . 31 December 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 31 December 2022.
37. News: Edouard Michut signs for SAFC . 30 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 30 August 2022.
38. News: Amad joins from Manchester United . 31 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 31 August 2022.
39. News: Gelhardt joins from Leeds United . 27 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 27 January 2023.
40. News: Ellis Taylor joins Hartlepool . 28 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 28 July 2022.
41. News: Confirmation that Ellis Taylor has been recalled to Sunderland A.F.C. . 1 January 2023. Twitter . 1 January 2023.
42. News: Diamond departs on loan . 29 August 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 29 August 2022.
43. News: Club Statement: Jack Diamond . 31 March 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 30 March 2023.
44. News: Winchester departs on loan . 2 September 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 1 September 2022.
45. News: Spellman makes Whitby switch . 24 September 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 23 September 2022.
46. News: Matete joins Plymouth on loan . 6 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 6 January 2023.
47. News: Dajaku joins FC St. Gallen . 26 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 26 January 2023.
48. News: Newall joins Darlington . 27 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 27 January 2023.
49. News: Wright joins Rotherham on loan . 31 January 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 31 January 2023.
50. News: Spellman joins Blyth Spartans . 4 February 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 4 February 2023.
51. News: Morpeth Town sign young defender . 22 February 2023 . The Northern Premier League . 21 February 2023.
52. News: Robinson makes Lancaster switch . 27 February 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 27 February 2023.
53. News: Chiabi joins Morpeth Town . 7 March 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 7 March 2023.
54. News: Gardiner joins South Shields . 24 March 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 23 March 2023.
55. News: Kachosa and Richardson join Guiseley . 24 March 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 23 March 2023.
56. News: Scott joins Kettering Town . 24 March 2023 . Sunderland AFC . 24 March 2023.
57. News: 2022-23: Pre-season update . 25 May 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 25 May 2022.
58. News: Several pre-season fixtures confirmed . 8 June 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 8 June 2022.
59. News: SAFC take on AS Roma in Portugal . 4 July 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 4 July 2022.
60. News: 2022-23 League Fixtures . 23 June 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 23 June 2022.
61. News: Lads to visit Shrewsbury in third round . 29 November 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 28 November 2022.
62. News: Lads travel to Fulham in round four . 10 January 2023 . Fulham FC . 8 January 2023.
63. News: Trip to Sheffield Wednesday in round one . 23 June 2022 . Sunderland AFC . 23 June 2022.