Sunderland

Gavin Henderson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Today I woke up proud. Slightly broken, slightly sunburnt, and with a knackered throat from all the screaming (and, well, inhaling red smoke!), but immensely proud of all that we have achieved this season.

The atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light was the best I have ever experienced on Sunday. Everyone understood the assignment and what we could achieve if the stars aligned and we gave it our best effort, and the end result was something no other Sunderland team has ever achieved through a league finish — we're off to Europe.

I cried many happy tears after the final whistle. I was emotionally drained and empty, yet my heart was so full.

Thank you Kyril. Thank you Regis. Thank you Granit. Thank you Luke. Thank you all - we are so grateful for everything that you've given us.

Now - let's get those passports renewed. HAWAY!

Find more from Gavin Henderson at Roker Report, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Sunderland securing Europa League football in their first season back in the top-flight.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: Can't believe we've actually done it. Qualified not just for Europe but the Europa League. Mr Le Bris must get manager of the season. 53 years since we were in Europe - what an achievement. So, so proud of this club.

Matt: Sat in a pub outside Wembley last year wondering how on earth we'd stay up this season. Can't believe it. Haway the lads.

Keith: The mission: 1. Stay up - job done. 2. Beat Newcastle - job done. Qualify for Europe, oh wow, what a season! Well done the lads!!

Jura: When I saw this fixture at the beginning of the season I sensed it would be significant, but for a different reason. This game was us at our best, we played our socks off and we absolutely deserved this win and our place in Europe.

Neville: When they won promotion, I feared a quick return after such a long absence from the Premier League. I have never been happier to be proved wrong - and with European football as a bonus for next season! So well done the lads and the manager.

Keith: Being a Sunderland fan since a boy, this is my proudest moment. It is a magnificent achievement for the club and every single supporter should feel proud too.

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland spent £161m on 15 new players after gaining promotion to the Premier League.

The season before, the three promoted sides - Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich - spent a combined £276.5m but returned to the Championship with the lowest combined points total of relegated sides in Premier League history.

Essentially, spending big is no guarantee of survival. But spending big and spending well is what Sunderland achieved.

"A lot of players came in last summer and there were questions, but Le Bris created that culture and philosophy," said former England striker Ellen White on BBC Final Score.

He has managed to seamlessly embed those signings into his system and extract the best from them - creating a squad that looks far greater than the sum of its parts.

Brian Brobbey, signed from Ajax for a reported £21.6m fee, has proved a key addition up front with a club-high seven Premier League goals, while France defender Nordi Mukiele, who joined from Paris St-Germain, has brought leadership and experience.

The £13m fee they paid for Granit Xhaka looks like a steal now as the former Arsenal man has dictated in midfield, while goalkeeper Robin Roefs has been outstanding.

Noah Sadiki's energy and skilful ball-carrying ability have also been crucial, underlining Sunderland's smart recruitment as they built a squad capable of competing at the highest level.

With Europa League added to their schedule next season, the test now is whether Sunderland can carry this momentum on to the continental stage.

Read more about the Black Cats' European qualification here

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from all 10 fixtures on the final day of the Premier League season.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 1-0 Everton

• West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

• Brighton 0-3 Manchester United

European football returns to Sunderland for the first time in 53 years as an impressive Premier League campaign comes to a close.

This time last year, the Black Cats were at Wembley for the Championship play-off final and now they have achieved the unthinkable with a top-eight finish.

The Europa League awaits...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland head coach Regis le Bris, speaking to BBC Match Of The Day: "It's amazing. Outstanding. The stadium is crazy now and the fans deserve this. The planets aligned today but we needed to do the job and it was good management at the end. We were only focused on our game, not even at half-time.

"It's a massive collective achievement. What we showed last season and this was being together. We can be ambitious but we have to work hard. The fans are really important - they are a huge part of this club. It's a community and we are proud to represent them."

Black Cats goalscorer Trai Hume speaking to BBC Match Of The Day: " A steward came and tried to show us the other scores on his phone but the 4G didn't work but then we found out we had done it. It hasn't sunk in yet. Coming up to the start of the season I don't think anyone gave us a chance to stay up let alone Europe.

"We've worked our socks off and fully deserve that. A special mention to the fans who are the heartbeat of the club and they have been through some tough times. We work really hard through the week. The fans are amazing and they gave us the extra boost. This is their home and we go out and work our socks off for them.

"Last year was emotional for me as it was a dream to play in the Premier League. I didn't think we could get here and make Europe but we have done it. We will give it everything next season."

Hear more from Le Bris on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Sunderland won 54 Premier League points this season, the most by a newly promoted side since Leeds United in 2020-21 (59 points), while their seventh place finish is the best by a newly promoted team since Wolves in 2018-19 (seventh).

• The Black Cats are one of just three sides that didn't lose a single Premier League game when scoring first in 2025-26 (P13 W8 D5), alongside Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Let's party."

That was the shout from the stadium announcer when telling the home supporters their team had qualified for the Europa League.

In truth, the party had been ongoing hours before kick-off but it was bedlam by the end of the match, as fans held heads in hands in disbelief at their remarkable achievement.

It is only four years since the Black Cats were in League One, with Luke O'Nien and Trai Hume having been with them throughout the journey and combining here for the first goal.

This is also a team that was cleverly improved in a £163m summer transfer spend last year.

Having only gone up via the Championship play-offs, it is little surprise many predicted Sunderland would struggle.

In each of the previous two campaigns, all three promoted teams were relegated straight back to the Championship, so it would have been understandable if Sunderland had simply been content with finishing 17th.

However, despite playing down expectations of European qualification, head coach Regis le Bris – supported by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and the club's aggressive recruitment strategy – has led the club into new territory.

Through the performances of captain Granit Xhaka and exciting new signings like Brian Brobbey, Lutsharel Geertruida and Robin Roefs, this side broke new ground.

They have become the first newly promoted team since Wolves in 2020, and only the fifth in the Premier League era, to qualify for Europe in the season after promotion.

It means Sunderland will return to continental competition for the first time in a generation, sparking jubilant scenes among supporters after a tense victory over one of England's biggest and wealthiest clubs.

It is undoubtedly a special time to be a Sunderland supporter, with trips to the continent to look forward to next season.

Sunderland have secured European football in their first season back in the Premier League after ending the campaign with a win at home to Chelsea.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know how you are feeling.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page for a selection of your replies - reaction and analysis to follow shortly

Luke O'Nien starts ahead of Omar Alderete in defence for Sunderland.

That's the only change made by manager Regis le Bris for the final match of the season taking place at the Stadium of Light from the 3-1 away win at Everton last weekend.

Alderete is among the substitutes.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Geertruida, Mukiele, O'Nien, Mandova, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Angulo, Brobbey

Subs: Ellborg, Alderete, Cirkin, Mayenda, Rigg, Diarra, Traore, Isador, Ta Bi

Chelsea make three changes from the team that beat Tottenham on Tuesday, including drafting striker Joao Pedro back in ahead of Liam Delap.

Levi Colwill also returns to the backline as Calum McFarlane switches back to a three man defence again.

Malo Gusto comes in at wing-back with Andrey Santos and Josh Acheampong also dropping back onto the bench.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Fofana, Colwill, Hato, Gusto, Caicedo, Fernandez, Cucurella, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, James, Derry, Essugo, Santos, Garnacho, Delap

It is the last day of the Premier League, every side is in action this Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Burnley v Wolves

• Crystal Palace v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Fulham v Newcastle

• Liverpool v Brentford

• Manchester City v Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

• Sunderland v Chelsea

• Tottenham v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Leeds", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Nick Barnes
BBC Radio Newcastle Sunderland commentator

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It's the Radio 1 Big Weekend in Sunderland and it's even bigger weekend for the city's football club, who on Sunday face Chelsea in a match that IF they win and the results at Liverpool or Brighton - or indeed both - go their way, could be playing European football for the first time in 53 years.

The tantalising prospect of a Conference League final in Istanbul, or even a Europa League final in Frankfurt, would have seemed idiotic if the idea had been mooted to Sunderland fans last summer after the exultation of their dramatic Championship play-off final win.

Finishing 17th was the only thing on most fans' minds. Now, though, every conversation with a Sunderland supporter begins with talk of qualifying for Europe.

Chelsea, of course, stand in their way, the current holders of the Conference League title. But, Sunderland have a tendency to keep going 'til the end and in front of a sell-out crowd at the Stadium of Light, which will be rocking on the final afternoon of the season, you can't write off Regis le Bris' team.

Despite Chelsea's superior record at the Stadium of Light, the stark fact is just one point separates the two teams and, with Le Bris' side showing an intensity and energy in recent weeks, you would not rule out an urgent review of passport expiry dates and a reappraisal of a European map long left to gather dust in the loft.

Explore Sunderland content on BBC Sounds

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth have already guaranteed at least a top-seven finish, meaning they will either qualify for the Champions League or Europa League.

At present, sixth and seventh will qualify for Uefa's second-tier competition because of Manchester City winning the FA Cup and England winning one of two Elite Performance Spots (EPS).

If English clubs get six Champions League spots, they will lose a Europa League spot in exchange. That would mean only seventh place would qualify for the Europa League.

Brighton are currently seventh and have a one-point advantage over Chelsea and Brentford, the two teams directly below them.

A win for the Seagulls would guarantee them Europa League football at least.

If Brighton fail to win and Chelsea win at Sunderland, the Blues would overtake Albion.

Chelsea can also overtake Brighton with a draw, if Brighton were to lose by two goals and Brentford fail to win at Anfield.

Sunderland themselves could finish in the top seven. For that to happen, they would need Brighton to lose and Brentford to drop points.

What about Conference League qualification?

It is a similar story in qualification for the one place available for the play-off qualifying round of next season's Conference League.

Chelsea are in eighth and currently possess that available spot. Eighth place qualifies for the Conference League because of City winning the EFL Cup and the EPS to an English club.

Chelsea will secure European football in at least the Conference League with a win over Sunderland.

Brentford will secure a top-eight finish if they better Chelsea's result.

Sunderland in 10th would leapfrog both if they beat Chelsea and Brentford drop points.

Sunderland will finish above Chelsea if they win this and that would hardly count as a surprise.

The Black Cats come into this game off the back of beating Everton away and another win here would secure a top-10 finish and, possibly, European football.

That is what Chelsea are playing for too, after that run of six straight league defeats saw them fall away from the Champions League places.

Chelsea got a good win over Tottenham on Tuesday but I am expecting this to be close, and I can see it ending up in a draw.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Sunderland and Chelsea collide on the final day with plenty on the line. The Black Cats are chasing a European spot, while Chelsea are desperate to sign off on a high after a disappointing season.

Sunderland eye European breakthrough

Sunderland's season has already exceeded expectations. Promoted via last year's play offs, they sit 10th and still have a chance of climbing to seventh. Victory would take them to 54 points and move them above Chelsea and potentially securing European football next season.

Their 2–1 win at Stamford Bridge in October remains one of the standout results of their campaign.

Completing a first league double over Chelsea since 2000–01 would underline the progress made under Regis Le Bris, who has been shortlisted for the manager of the season awards.

Resilience has been a defining feature. Sunderland have recovered 22 points from losing positions — the most in the Premier League — and that ability to stay in matches was evident again in their 3–1 win at Everton last weekend.

Another victory would give them back to back league wins for only the third time this season.

They are also only the fifth promoted side in the past 16 years to reach the 50 point mark, joining Wolves, Sheffield United, Leeds and Fulham.

Final days have not always been kind to Sunderland, though. They have won just one of their 16 previous Premier League season finales.

Chelsea look to finish with momentum

Chelsea's 2–1 win over Tottenham on Tuesday ended a run of seven league matches without a victory. It offered a glimpse of improvement in a season marked by inconsistency and managerial change.

Xabi Alonso will not be in the dugout at the Stadium of Light, but the incoming manager will be watching closely as he assesses the squad he inherits.

For now, Chelsea have the chance to record consecutive league wins for the first time since early in the year.

Their record away at Sunderland is strong, with just one defeat in their last 13 league visits.

Individual performances have also shown signs of progress: Enzo Fernandez is enjoying his most productive Premier League campaign, while João Pedro has been directly involved in seven goals across his last nine appearances.

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is in full motion!

Sunderland's Herrington Country Park is hosting the annual three-day event, so we asked you to choose one Black Cats player - past or present - to be your festival plus-one.

Here are some of your picks:

Simon: Jermain Defoe. He has been at a few clubs in his time, so must have a few dance moves and know some initiation songs.

Jake: Which Sunderland player would I like to take to Radio 1's Big Weekend? Nordic Musickele!

Dave: I don't know which player I would pick, but if I had to pick a song to be played it would be Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits. It reminds me of moving down south in 1982 and it was on my first bought mixtape. It was on my Walkman in 1983 and on my car cassette the same afternoon I passed my test in 1984.

Follow all the action for this year's Big Weekend in Sunderland on BBC Sounds, just download the app and listen live to Radio 1 wherever you go.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League finale against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• They will make "a late decision" on defender Omar Alderete, while winger Chemsdine Talbi won't be available after picking up a muscle injury this week.

• He said it is "impressive" that they are even in the position to qualify for Europe as a newly promoted side, but it's because they have "played good football, we grew, we learned and we improved".

• On it being the final game of the season: "I'm really proud of the last part of the season. It's even too early to finish because I feel every day in the training sessions, in the mood in the dressing room, that we still want to play football together."

• He said they "expected tough periods" in the campaign, but when they had those the team "stayed consistent" in their coaching methods and this helped them overcome them with "stability".

• On there still being something to play for: "We want to play all the way until the last minute. After that, we'll see the outcome of the season, but at least it's already [been] a fantastic season and it could be even better with three more points."

• He said they won't be following Brentford and Brighton's games "directly", but laughed as he said it will be "passive" from "in the stands" and supporters.

• On opponents Chelsea: "A really strong opponent. We can't underestimate Chelsea - it's impossible. They have game-changers and talent everywhere on the pitch, so we'll have to play our best football and hope it's enough."

Hit play above to hear more from Le Bris, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Sunderland? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

If you're looking for something to get you in the groove before Sunderland's final Premier League game of the season, BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend has you covered.

The annual three-day festival will take to Sunderland's Herrington Country Park, which is just a 14-minute drive from the Stadium of Light, with chart-toppers Fatboy Slim, Olivia Dean and Zara Larsson ready to take to the stage.

BBC Radio 1's Maia Beth has been spinning back-to-back north east anthems to warm-up to the ultimate 'Big Weekend' for sport and music fans. What's not to like!

To hear the 30-minute mix listen on BBC Sounds

But all of this chat has us wondering: which Black Cats player - past or present - would you take as your festival plus-one?

Let us know your pick and your reasoning here

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris' efforts to ensure all of his first-team players have a "very strong bond" is "no mean achievement", says BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes.

If the Black Cats win their final fixture of the season and results elsewhere go in their favour, they could secure European football for next season, despite only winning promotion to the Premier League from the Championship last term.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, Barnes said: "It is interesting to see the spirit in this team, especially considering what they have forged [in these past few campaigns].

"For example, Simon Adingra went out on loan earlier this season and you just got the impression he didn't fit into the culture.

"There is obviously a very strong bond amongst the players, and I think the club will continue to do their due diligence on all incoming players to make sure they will integrate [into the current squad].

"Bearing in mind the number of countries that are represented in Sunderland's dressing room as well, being able to integrate everybody is no mean achievement."

Hear the full conversation by pressing play above or listen on BBC Sounds

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini believes Enzo Le Fee is an "almost perfect player" at Premier League level because of his ability on the ball, as well as his workrate off it.

Le Fee helped his side take all three points with a goal against Everton on Sunday, keeping the Black Cats in with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe on the last day of the season.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, Gabbiadini said: "He's not surprised me at all. Last season, when he came in, you could tell he had that quality and that calmness.

"When he gets the ball, he does things so quickly, like when he set up [Brian] Brobbey with that through ball. The ball goes to him and, as a player, you sort of have this sometimes when things slow down. It used to happen to me as a striker. You feel the ball comes to you and it goes in slow motion, but you're doing things very quickly and Le Fee's the same. He gets the ball, his first touch is always perfect, so his second touch is making the pass and he's very clever.

"He was a surprise signing last January for a player who had a big move to Roma, it hadn't quite worked out for him and we really, really capitalised on it. When we got promoted, I think it was one of the first things that people looked at was that we had a clause that we'd definitely sign him for this season.

"Right from the start of the season, I said I think he's the player you have to get in the side whatever way you can.

"He's not the biggest, he probably bucks the trend of the Premier League right now with big physical players, but class on the ball trumps that every time.

"He has the work rate, he has the tenacity, he wins headers and he wins tackles, so he has that as well, which makes him almost the perfect player at this level."

Listen to the full clip above or on BBC Sounds and find more Sunderland content here

Gavin Henderson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Sunday's trip to take on Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium was probably one of my favourite away days.

The sun was shining, the Guinness was flowing and Sunderland turned up once again when it mattered most.

We have recovered more points from losing positions than any other Premier League team, demonstrating the incredible mentality of our squad in adversity.

Despite going behind against the run of play just before half-time, we came out in the second period even more determined to succeed, and we got the job done because of a fantastic team effort.

Three goals, three points and a week to prepare for one of the biggest games in our history - a face-off at the Stadium of Light with Chelsea where, if we win and results go our way, we could finish inside the top eight and qualify for Europe.

Now we have to get ready. There's a big team effort required to ensure that the fans and the players work in unison so that, come full-time, we know we've done all we can to reach that goal.

Hey, we might not qualify even if we do win, but all we can do is hope for the best.

This has been an unbelievable season and, as I wrote a few weeks ago, I wouldn't write Sunderland off just yet.

We're capable of the sublime... and the ridiculous!

Find more from Gavin Henderson at Roker Report, external