(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung)
(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung)

How Sunderland and West Ham's summer spending compares ahead of Premier League clash

Pranav Shahaney

Pranav has over nine years of experience inside newsrooms in print and digital media and joined Breaking Media Ltd. in April, 2021. He specialises in breaking news reporting, investigations, injury news and stories surrounding club takeovers. Pranav graduated from St. Mary’s University, London, in Sports Journalism (MA). He has worked at News Associates, The Non League Paper, HT Media Group, VAVEL, Sportskeeda, Chichester Observer and Eastbourne Herald, among others.

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Sunderland are set to take on West Ham in their opening Premier League game after an eight-year absence from England's top flight.

After making a number of first-team signings this summer, Regis Le Bris will be hoping that his side is ready to take on the Hammers at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, 16 August.

The London side, under Graham Potter, have not been that active in the window, but will be looking to improve on last season's 14th-place finish.

Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light is now a Premier League venue. (Credit: Imago)

Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra among the marquee arrivals at the Stadium of Light

The Black Cats paid Bayer Leverkusen £17.3million to secure the services of the Switzerland international.

Habib Diarra was Sunderland's most expensive signing of the window, as they signed him for a club-record £30million fee from Strasbourg.

Simon Adingra also joined from Brighton, adding much-needed quality on the left wing.

They paid £21million to the Seagulls to sign the 23-year-old Ivory Coast international.

Enzo Le Fee, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Robin Roefs, Reinildo Mandava, Arthur Masuaku and Marc Guiu also moved to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra
Diarra will be a first-team regular. (Credit: Imago)

Sunderland have outspent West Ham this summer

On the other hand, West Ham made just four first-team signings, two of them arriving on free transfers.

The first signing of the window was El Hadji Malick Diouf, who joined for £19million from Slavia Prague.

PlayerFormer ClubFee
Habib DiarraStrasbourg£30m
Simon AdingraBrighton£21m
Enzo Le FeeAS Roma£20m
Chemsdine TalbiClub Brugge£19.5m
Noah SadikiUnion Saint-Gilloise£17.75m
Granit XhakaBayer Leverkusen£17.3m
Robin RoefsNEC Nijmegen£11.5m
Reinildo MandavaAtletico MadridFree
Arthur MasuakuBesiktasFree
Marc GuiuChelseaLoan
Sunderland's signings this summer.

Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen joined for a £20million fee as Potter wanted a new number one for the upcoming season.

Along with him, Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson joined on free transfers.

In total, the Hammers spent £39million while Sunderland shelled out £137.05million.

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