How Kyril Louis-Dreyfus turned Sunderland from laughing stock into the Premier League’s new hope
Sunderland fans will feel like they’re dreaming after a summer of big spending ahead of their return to the Premier League – but it’s all real, and it’s all down to Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Premier League supporters tend to be at odds with the owners of their clubs. It feels more common to hear fans moaning about their owners rather than praising them.
Therefore, supporters at the Stadium of Light will be thankful that they have Louis-Dreyfus leading the charge as they make their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
After their relegation from England’s top flight in 2017, which ended a 10-year stay in the division, Sunderland fell as low as League One, as ownership issues and off-field turbulence engulfed the Wearside outfit.
However, a takeover, smash-hit documentary, and eight years later, Sunderland are back in the big time, as Mackem News takes a look at how Louis-Dreyfus has turned the Black Cats from a laughing stock into the Premier League’s new hope.
When did Louis-Dreyfus get involved with Sunderland?
In December of 2020, Louis-Dreyfus agreed to buy a controlling interest in Sunderland, with the Black Cats struggling in League One at the time.
The EFL approved Louis-Dreyfus’ purchase in February 2021, with the then-23-year-old initially acquiring a 41 per cent stake, becoming the youngest chairman in the EFL in the process. Stewart Donald, Juan Sartori, and Charlie Methven all maintained minority shares.
Louis-Dreyfus’ first taste of success with Sunderland arrived in March 2021 as the Black Cats beat Tranmere Rovers at Wembley to win the EFL Trophy.
The following season, the Mackems were promoted back to the Championship via the play-offs, and Louis-Dreyfus celebrated this success by becoming Sunderland’s majority shareholder, increasing his stake from 41 per cent to 51 per cent.
This move saw Methven sell his five per cent share, while Donald’s stake reduced, and Sartori’s increased.
June 2022
- Louis-Dreyfus – 51 per cent
- Sartori – 30 per cent
- Donald – 19 per cent
Eventually, Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori would buy out Donald’s remaining shares, with the former’s stake increasing to 64 per cent, and the latter’s to 36 per cent.
Why is Louis-Dreyfus so popular at Sunderland?
Louis-Dreyfus’ first few years at Sunderland saw the Black Cats make low-risk signings and look to restore financial stability after years of debt and uncertainty.
However, ahead of the 2024/25 Championship season, after a disappointing 16th-place finish in their second year back in the division, Regis Le Bris was appointed Sunderland Head Coach, and the rest is history.
This appointment proved to be a masterstroke from Louis-Dreyfus, and midway through the season, Enzo Le Fee was signed on loan in a move which shocked many and signified a change in the Black Cats’ transfer approach.
Le Fee proved to be a key player as the Mackems were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs, and would then join permanently a matter of weeks later for a club-record fee.
However, the spending did not stop there, with the Black Cats splashing more than £130million in total on new recruits this summer, the most of any side in the Premier League outside of the ‘traditional top six’.
After years of careful spending and meticulous planning, Louis-Dreyfus has taken the shackles off this summer, as Sunderland now look set to make a real effort at surviving in the Premier League.
Premier League needs Sunderland to stay up
While Newcastle United fans might have something to say about this, a lot of people will want to see Sunderland establish themselves as Premier League regulars again.
Despite years of turbulence at the Stadium of Light, the Mackems remain one of England’s most historic clubs, and many will feel as though they should be a regular feature in the top-flight.
The gap between the Championship and Premier League is getting bigger by the year, with the last six teams to be promoted to England’s top flight all going straight back down.
Sunderland kick their Premier League return off when they host West Ham at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, 18 August, and they will want to break that trend.
Luckily, Louis-Dreyfus seems determined to do just that and has put his money where his mouth is, and there is every chance that Le Bris’ side will stay up this season as a result.
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