AliousForget Isidor: Why Sunderland’s “Awesome” Robin Roefs Could Be Their Next £30m Superstar**
Sunderland’s long-awaited Premier League return has been nothing short of eye-catching. After splashing a staggering £141.5m in the summer transfer window – the second-largest spend by a promoted club in English football, behind only Nottingham Forest in 2022 – the Black Cats have been rewarded with a flying start.
The squad overhaul brought in big names like Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Granit Xhaka, and Nordi Mukiele. That investment has already paid dividends, with Sunderland sitting fifth in the league after three wins in their opening six games – a start far beyond even their most optimistic supporters’ expectations.
While much of the spotlight has fallen on star striker Wilson Isidor, who has already netted three goals, one of the less glamorous summer arrivals is rapidly becoming the club’s most valuable asset.
The echoes of Pickford’s rise
Sunderland fans are no strangers to world-class goalkeepers. Their academy famously produced Jordan Pickford, who broke into the first team in 2016/17 before earning a £30m move to Everton after Sunderland’s relegation. Pickford has since gone on to cement himself as England’s No.1, delivering heroic penalty saves at major tournaments and becoming a cornerstone of the national side.
That precedent has now set the stage for another potential superstar between the posts.
Enter Robin Roefs – Sunderland’s hidden gem
Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, 22-year-old Dutch shot-stopper Robin Roefs has quickly emerged as one of Sunderland’s standout performers. He has played every single minute of their Premier League campaign so far, amassing three clean sheets in his first six matches.
His impact has not gone unnoticed. Andy Sixsmith described Roefs’ start as “excellent,” while Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips went a step further, labelling him “absolutely awesome.”
Even more impressive than the praise are the numbers:
Save percentage: 82.5% (99th percentile)
Clean sheet rate: 50% (99th percentile)
Cross-stopping success: 10% (91st percentile)
Those stats put him in elite company. In fact, FBref data shows Roefs’ numbers closely mirror those of England’s Pickford, and he even outperforms him in several key areas. Roefs averages 3.0 saves per game compared to Pickford’s 1.83, concedes fewer goals per 90 minutes (0.67 vs. 1.0), and boasts a superior clean sheet ratio (50% vs. 33.3%).
Stylistically, he has been likened to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, both modern keepers renowned for their blend of shot-stopping and distribution.
The £30m star in the making?
For Sunderland, Roefs’ rise is invaluable. While the big-money forwards and experienced midfielders were expected to dominate the narrative, it’s the young Dutch keeper who may prove to be their most significant signing.
At just 22, he is already showing the potential to follow in Pickford’s footsteps – not only by becoming a cornerstone for Sunderland’s survival and growth, but also as a future £30m transfer asset.
In a summer full of marquee arrivals, Robin Roefs might just be Sunderland’s most important signing of all.
Alious
