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Sunderland have already made their first signing after winning promotion to the Premier League

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Sunderland returned to the Premier League by beating Sheffield United at Wembley, but the Black Cats didn’t do it the easy way.

Sheffield United entered this contest as the favourites after dismantling Bristol City in the semi-final, and their superiority told in the first-half.

Tyrese Campbell scored the opening goal after an incredible lung-bursting run from Gustavo Hamer set him up.

Truthfully, Sunderland weren’t at the races for most of the Championship play-off final, and if it wasn’t for some outstanding goalkeeping from Anthony Patterson, they could have conceded a couple more goals.

Fortunately, some inspired second-half substitutions from Regis Le Bris were the catalyst for a comeback. Patrick Roberts came off the bench to brilliantly set up Eliezer Mayenda, who rifled his effort past Michael Cooper, before Brighton-bound Tommy Watson scored the winner in the dying embers.

Watson fired Sunderland into the Premier League ahead of his £10 million transfer to Brighton, and the Black Cats have already made one signing of their own.

Sheffield United v Sunderland - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Sunderland have completed the signing of Enzo Le Fee after promotion

Sunderland signed Enzo Le Fee from Roma in the January transfer window. The talented attacker joined on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy him for £19 million if they won promotion to the Premier League.

Of course, with Watson’s dramatic late winner, Sunderland have now signed Le Fee permanently from the Italian giants, becoming their first of many captures this summer.

The 25-year-old has shown moments of brilliance since joining the club, including two assists in the play-off semi-finals against Coventry.

Now, supporters of the North East giants will get to watch the Frenchman in the Premier League after completing his transfer to the Stadium of Light.

How did Le Fee perform in the Championship play-off final?

In the Championship play-off final, Le Fee was nullified in the first half by the ferocity and aggression of the United midfield and back line.

The Sunderland playmaker only made 18 touches in the first period, with only Mayenda (11) making fewer during a difficult spell in the match.

However, when Le Bris substituted Chris Rigg for Roberts, Le Fee found himself occupying a central role, and he was more of a threat in the final half an hour.

Enzo Le Fee’s statistics against Sheffield United
90 minutes played
27/29 accurate passes (93%)
1 key pass
2 ground duels won
1 tackle
2 dribble attempts

Sheffield United struggled to shut down his creative influence, including his key pass in the build-up to Roberts’ goal, as well as his intelligence off the ball.

Now, following their promotion to the top-flight, supporters will have the luxury of watching him against world-class opposition.