Kristjaan Speakman’s 10 Worst Sunderland Signings – Ranked

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: Four new Sunderland signings come out on the pitch at half time (L-R) Abdoullah Ba, Edouard Michut, Jewison Benette and Amad Diallo during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Rotherham at Stadium of Light on August 31, 2022 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images) | Sunderland AFC via Getty Images Former Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is headed to F.C.

Copenhagen, and while the club wouldn’t have reached its current heights without him, there are plenty of misses in the list of 57 players signed during his four-and-a-half years in charge. Let’s take a look at the ones that haven’t made the grade.10.

Ahmed AbdullahiThis one is probably a bit mean, but he cost €1.5 million, it’s been two years, and not only has he not played for the first team, but he’s only made the bench twice.He’s one of three players signed by Speakman never to play for the club – at least not yet, in Abdullahi’s case.

He’s already 22, older than Jocelyn Ta Bi, Eliezer Mayenda, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki and Chris Rigg. He shares a birthday with Habib Diarra.On the other hand, while he’s only played for the U21s six times, he’s scored six goals, and there are still two more years on his contract for him to earn playing time – or at least improve his transfer value.

9. Jayden DannsZero. Nada.

Zilch.That’s how much Danns played for Sunderland after a back injury showed up during his medical.Not only did Danns never play a minute for the Black Cats, he barely visited Sunderland, rehabbing with his parent club, Liverpool.

8. Jewison BennetteWe all loved him, and I’ll never forget seeing him score during pre-season in San Antonio and getting to congratulate him in person after the game.That said, 21 appearances, two starts, two goals, and a reported €500k weren’t enough return on the initial €1.

30 million investment.But we’ll always have the triple pirouette.AT THE AGE OF 16 YEARS AND 76 DAYS, CHRI