15 Worst Sunderland Signings Ever
10. Danny Graham
The purchase of Danny Graham for £5m was the beginning of the end for manager Martin O’Neil. Usually difficult to play against, Graham admitted himself that he just could not get going at the club and he managed just one goal in three seasons.
9. Papy Djilobodji
Like many others, the defender was part of Sunderland’s decline from Premier League to League One. He was part of the squad that was relegated from the top-flight, Djilobodji moved out on loan as Sunderland crashed out of the Championship. As Sunderland prepared for League One, the defender looked for a route out. He is widely remembered as one of the worst Sunderland signings ever.
8. Emmanuel Eboue
Sunderland decided to sign the former Arsenal full back, Eboue, after his release from Turkish giants Galatasaray. The Ivory Coast international made just one appearance for Sunderland’s U23 side before he was suspended by Fifa from all football-related activity for 12 months. Sunderland had no choice but to terminate his contract, much to the disappointment of then Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce.
7. Lilian Laslandes
Manager Peter Reid found a replacement for the ageing Niall Quinn, in the form of Lilian Laslandes. He arrived in 2001, for £3.6 million, which at the time was a huge amount for Sunderland.
He failed to adapt to the speed of the Premier League and fai;ed to score a single goal for the club. His 12 appearances were also largely forgettable and a bust-up with manager Peter Reid saw the Frenchman shipped out on loan deals to FC Koln and Bastia, less than six months after signing for Sunderland.
6. Jozy Altidore
Although he’d previously struggled in the top flight at Hull, Altidore arrived at Sunderland on the back of an incredible two campaigns in the Netherlands with Alkmaar where he netted 51 goals. In one and a half seasons at Sunderland, he managed just three. The club were able to use him in a swap deal to bring Jermain Defoe to the club.