Sunderland have certainly had mixed fortunes in the transfer market.

The Black Cats have pulled off some wonderful signings over the years with the Wearsiders attracting some huge names to the Stadium Of Light to the adoration of the passionate fanbase.

But for every star-studded signing there have been some absolute stinkers.

While those behind-the-scenes often work tirelessly to ensure that every signing is a success it's often down to hard work and luck as to whether a player will succeed after moving to a new club.

Unfortunately in the case of Sunderland there have been more than their fair share of shockers over the years.

With that in mind we take a look at nine signings who have flopped since moving to the Stadium Of Light.

After coming through the ranks with Middlesbrough the goalkeeper was tipped for big things after being capped at England under-21 level and even being named in the Great Britain Olympic squad for the 2012 games.

Leaving Teesside in 2015 Steele joined Blackburn Rovers for two years where he did well to establish himself as the club's number one at Ewood Park.

In 2017 he jumped at the opportunity to move to Sunderland try to help the club secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Unfortunately, as we know, that just didn't happen with Steele struggling to impress as the club suffered a second successive relegation as they were demoted to League One.

Relegation wasn't solely down to Steele, but there's no doubt that he was part of a poor squad who really struggled that season.

At the age of 22 the midfielder had the world at his feet.

A move to Sunderland in 2016 was seen as the ideal platform to show his quality in the Premier League as he looked to make a big impression.

Ndong arrived for a club-record fee and so big things were certainly expected of him; but unfortunately things didn't go to plan at all.

The midfielder was part of the side who suffered relegation from the Premier League in 2017, before spending the first half of the following year with them in the Championship before heading to Watford on loan.

After ending up in League One the midfielder ended up being sacked by the club which surely makes him one of Sunderland's worst-ever signings.

It's hard to argue that Phil Babb was an excellent defender in his day.

After thriving with Bradford City and Coventry City the defender got his big break with Liverpool where he stayed for around six years before moving to Portugal with Sporting Lisbon.

After two years on the continent Babb returned to England and secured a move to Sunderland in 2002 in a move which was expected to be a major coup for the Black Cats.

Unfortunately he really failed to impress.

Babb struggled at the Stadium Of Light and saw Sunderland relegated during his first season before retiring after playing in the second tier the year after.

Another player who was expected to achieve big things at the club.

After thriving with Nantes the defender moved to Chelsea in 2015 where he spent his one season out on loan with Werder Bremen.

The following year he moved to Sunderland for a fee of £8million but was limited to 23 appearances in a season where the club suffered relegation to the Championship.

The next year Djilobodji signed for Dijon on a season-long loan deal before being sacked at the start of the next season for breach of contract.

Since then the defender moved to Guingamp on a permanent deal before heading to Turkey where he is currently playing.

The striker burst onto the professional scene by becoming the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer during his time with Everton.

Vaughan struggled to live up to that early hype and ended up spending time on loan in the EFL with the likes of Derby County, Leicester City and Crystal Palace before enjoying spells with Norwich City and Huddersfield Town.

After a poor spell with Birmingham City Vaughan found his feet again by playing with Bury before completing a move to Sunderland in 2017 for their campaign in the Championship.

Unfortunately the striker lasted just six months at the Stadium Of Light before being shipped off to Wigan Athletic following a run of just two goals in 27 appearances for the Black Cats.

He was just one of the disappointments that season but supporters are unlikely to forget such a poor spell.

Few could argue with the career that the Norwegian had.

After excelling in his home nation Flo secured a big move to Chelsea in 1997 and thrived during his three years at Stamford Bridge.

He then moved north of the border and joined Scottish giants Rangers where again he enjoyed two fruitful season as he led the line of the Glaswegian side.

After that Flo moved to Sunderland but struggled to fill the void left by Niall Quinn and struggled to forge a partnership with star striker Kevin Phillips.

As a result he scored just six goals in 33 appearances before leaving for Italy the next summer.

Another player forever linked with Sunderland double downward spiral.

Camp was regarded as one of the most established goalkeepers in the EFL after thriving in his career to date with clubs such as Derby County, Queens Park Rangers, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Rotherham.

He struggled to establish himself with Cardiff City and that led to an opportunity to join Sunderland in 2018 as the club looked to avoid relegation from the Championship.

Unfortunately during his half-season with the club Camp really struggled and ultimately suffered relegation with the Black Cats that term.

Since then he spent two years with Birmingham City before Swindon Town earlier this year.

The only player who is still registered with the club.

Grigg built a strong reputation for himself with the likes of Walsall and MK Dons before moving to Wigan Athletic in 2015.

The striker spent three and a half years with the Latics before Sunderland came in with a big-money move in January 2019 that would hopefully see the striker fire the club back into the Championship.

Unfortunately Grigg really struggled to live up to the hype of his arrival and even admitted that it was probably a mistake to leave Wigan.

Currently on loan with MK Dons, the Northern Irish striker is looking to recapture his golden touch as he prepares for what's next in his career.

Another who is a strong contender to be the worst of the lot.

Rodwell was tipped as the next big thing after breaking into Everton's first team squad at the age of 16 and spending another four years turning out for the Toffees.

He then secured a big-money move to Manchester City but was limited in opportunities until he was sold to Sunderland for a fee of around £10million on a lucrative, long-term contract.

Rodwell was a solid, but unspectacular signing during his time in the Premier League but things quickly turned sour when he refused a paycut after the club's relegation to the Championship, leaving the Black Cats to pay his huge wages despite their change in circumstances.

He was eventually released in the summer of 2018 but by that time the damage was very much done in terms finances and what was left of his reputation with Sunderland fans.