Omar Alderete

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

Sitting 13th in the Championship with form reading LLWWL, Sunderland's season has been defined by inconsistency – yet Omar Alderete has emerged as one of their few constants. The 29-year-old Paraguayan centre-back has been a commanding presence since his £12m arrival in August 2025, racking up 28 appearances and 2,446 minutes despite fierce competition from the likes of Dan Ballard and Pierre Kalulu. Standing 1.88m with a left-footed profile, Alderete brings exactly the aerial dominance and physical authority the Black Cats craved, contributing a goal and an assist from the back – impressive attacking returns for a defender rated 65 in defending. His six yellow cards paint the picture of a committed, no-nonsense stopper who takes no prisoners, a style that has quickly endeared him to the Stadium of Light faithful. With his market value holding steady at €11.6m and a contract running through 2029, Alderete isn't just a stop-gap solution – he's the defensive anchor Sunderland are building their future around.