Sunderland star is outperforming all Premier League defenders, two stats are incredible
Sunderland have a recently-signed star in their ranks who is above all other Premier League defenders in two key metrics so far this season.
Sunderland clinched a long-awaited return to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs in May, and an unprecedented summer window followed as they overhauled Regis Le Bris’ squad.
Their spending focused on bolstering his options across the pitch, as Reinildo Mandava joined the Black Cats after he left Atletico Madrid, Dutch international striker Brian Brobbey moved to Wearside from Ajax, and Habib Diarra arrived at Sunderland from Strasbourg for a club-record fee of £30million.
Le Bris’ side have massively impressed so far this term, as a result of their strong summer, with three wins from their first six games back in the top-flight to reach fifth in the table at this early stage.
Sunderland beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 last time out to continue their great form, and one new defender has stood out among every rearguard player in the Premier League this term to further prove that their summer business has worked wonders.
Nordi Mukiele stands out in tackles and dribbled past stats among Premier League defenders
Sunderland signed Nordi Mukiele from PSG last month for an initial £9.5million [BBC] after he had spent last season out on loan at Bayer Leverkusen.
The 27-year-old, who can play at either right-back or centre-back, has started in each of the Black Cats’ last four league outings in the latter position, during which time they have not lost and have only conceded two goals.
According to statistical gurus Squawka, via X, Mukiele is the only defender to make more than 10 tackles and not be dribbled past once in the Premier League this season, so it is clear that he has had a huge impact on their good fortunes up to now.
Mukiele is certainly proving his worth to Sunderland and Le Bris right now, and the club will likely feel that they got him for a real cut-price fee considering his ability and experience at the highest level.
Mukiele has all the tools to help Sunderland stay in the Premier League long-term
Sunderland’s summer business was certainly nothing to be sniffed at, and even though there may have been some questions over the sheer amount of players they signed, their strategy has certainly paid off so far.
Mukiele boasted a career full of experience and silverware prior to his move to the Stadium of Light, with his three years spent at PSG seeing him pick up two Ligue 1 winners medals and another in the Coupe de France.
| Appearances | 5 |
| Clean Sheets | 2 |
| Tackles per 90 | 2.75 |
| Duels Won per 90 | 6.75 |
| Duels Won % | 69.2% |
| Aerial Duels Won per 90 | 2.75 |
He also won the DFB-Pokal at RB Leipzig in 2022, while making 115 Bundesliga appearances in his four years there, so it should come as little surprise to see him shining in the Premier League with a team on the rise like Sunderland.
Fellow defensive summer signing Omar Alderete grabbed the headlines with a goal against Nottingham Forest last time out, but he and Mukiele have struck up a brilliant partnership that could be key to Sunderland surviving with ease this season, and potentially going on to impress in years to come.