The 2022–23 season was

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is a port at the mouth of the River Wear on the North Sea, approximately south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the most p ...

's 144th season in their existence, and the club's first season return in the Championship since the 2017–18 season, following their promotion via the

play-offs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

in the previous season. In addition to the league, they also competed in the

FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...

and the

EFL Cup The English Football League Cup, often referred to as the League Cup and currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout competition in men's domestic football in England. Orga ...

. The club finished sixth in the Championship, and were defeated by

Luton Town Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...

in the play off semi-finals.

First team squad

Transfers

In

Out

Loans in

Loans out

Pre-season and friendlies

Sunderland announced they would travel to

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

for a training camp which would include two pre-season friendlies. On 8 June, the club announced seven pre-season friendlies. A further addition to the Portugal tour schedule was confirmed, against

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: People, characters, figures, names * Roma or Romani people, an ethnic group living mostly in Europe and the Americas. * Roma called Roy, ancient Egyptian High Priest of Amun * Roma (footballer, born 1979), born ''Paul ...

Competitions

Overall record

Championship

League table

Results summary

Results by round

Matches

On 23 June, the league fixtures were announced.

Play-offs

Sunderland finished 6th in the regular

2022–23 EFL Championship The 2022–23 EFL Championship (referred to as the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the 7th season of the EFL Championship under its current title and the 31st season under its current league division format. The season started o ...

season, so were drawn against 3rd placed

in the Play-off Semi Final. The first leg took place at the

Stadium of Light The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England, and the eighth and current home to Sunderland. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light is the ninth largest football stadium in England. The ...

and the second leg took place at

Kenilworth Road Kenilworth Road, known affectionately as The Kenny, is a association football, football stadium in the area of Bury Park, Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been the home ground of Luton Town F.C., Luton Town Football Club since 1905. The sta ...

FA Cup

The ''Black Cats'' were drawn away to

Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The team currently competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1886, the club were inaugur ...

in the third round and to

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies in a loop on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea, London, Chelsea ...

in the fourth round.

EFL Cup

Sunderland were drawn away to

Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system. Formed in 1867 as an off ...

in the first round.

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