Sunderland AFC scored big with 2018 transfer who can lead Le Bris promotion charge: View | OneFootball

Luke O'Nien joined Sunderland from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018. Could he finally lead the Black Cats back to the Premier League this season?

Luke O'Nien had come off the back of a couple of successful years with Wycombe Wanderers, which ended in promotion to League One in 2018. That summer, their league rivals Sunderland pounced to secure the midfielder's signature, which proved to be one of their best pieces of business in recent years.

After leaving Watford, the then 21-year-old partook in a trial with Wycombe which earned him a one-year deal. Thanks to some exceptional form, O'Nien became part of the furniture at Adams Park, which ultimately earned him a move to Wearside in 2018.

The man now known as 'Mr Sunderland' has seen the club reach a Wembley final three times during his stint, winning once to gain promotion back to the Championship in 2022. The newly named club captain is now hoping to get a second promotion on his CV, with the top flight in sight for the Mackems.

Sunderland struck gold securing O'Nien from League One rivals

It's been a topsy-turvey decade for the giant club from the North-East. From miraculous Premier League survival to multiple years stuck in the third tier, it would be a fair statement to say Sunderland fans have had quite the ride.

It seems the Mackems are finally back on track to where they belong, in the top flight of English football. However, this might not have been the case if it wasn't for a smart piece of business that went under the radar in 2018.

The club was in crisis, suffering back-to-back relegations, dropping the enormous club into League One. New manager Jack Ross was tasked with a massive rebuilding job in the summer to get the Black Cats out of the third tier at the first time of asking.

This saw a very busy summer come, with ludicrous money being spent on players such as Will Grigg, who was expected to score for fun. However, their best signing would be one that went under the radar of their competitors.

Box-to-box midfielder O'Nien was signed for an undisclosed fee from Wycombe. A popular figure at Adams Park, Chairboys fans were gutted to see their star leave. This popularity would instantly carry over to his new club though, as he became adored on Wearside.

In a summer of such big spending, O'Nien's deal was overlooked, due to the substantial fees Sunderland were forking out for some of their signings. The evidence that this was one of their best deals was soon clear after the first season. Having featured 47 times for the Black Cats and scoring five goals, O'Nien helped guide the club to two finals, in which they lost both. Despite this setback, his first season planted the seeds for his success at the Stadium of Light.

Through the good and the bad, the 29-year-old was there. Nobody could've expected that the young midfielder from Wycombe would become one of the most reliable centre-backs in the Championship when the Mackems signed him, but those who doubted him were forced to eat their words.

A new defensive role revolutionised the former midfielder's game

O'Nien found himself playing a few different positions throughout his career. During his Wycombe days, the former fan favourite was a combative, box-to-box midfielder. This is what initially caught the eye of Sunderland, but upon his arrival in the North-East, he was noticed to be a pretty competent defender as well.

During Sunderland's League One days, the Wearside icon remained predominantly a midfielder, with some appearances coming at right-back. It was the Championship where O'Nien would get his first taste of defensive action, which came thanks to an injury crisis for Tony Mowbray's men.

Next to Dom Ballard, the ex-Wycombe man showed his strengths at centre-back, drifting into midfield and displaying great progressive passing. Whilst his defensive abilities were questioned by some fans, with him not being particularly tall, which you'd expect from a central defender, Sunderland were flying and ended up reaching the Championship playoffs.

Sadly, the height issue came back to rear its head in the play-offs, as a much more physical Luton Town team managed to put the Mackems to the sword over two legs. Regardless, O'Nien exceeded all of his competitors in the Sunderland squad, which ultimately saw him become a crucial member of the starting XI.

With the modern game requiring so much more from defenders than just breaking up attacks, it was noticed that O'Nien possessed plenty of qualities that make him the ideal fit for the modern game. His pace, passing ability, awareness and willingness to put his body on the line have meant he's adapted very well to his new role.

Whilst Sunderland were unable to kick on last season to gain promotion, which did see the long-serving star come under some fire for his performances, since Regis Le Bris has taken the reins at the Stadium of Light, O'Nien has become a revelation in the Black Cats' defence.

O'Nien excels in Le Bris' system which bodes well for promotion chances

After a massive setback last season, Sunderland had to get their next appointment just right. Thankfully, early signs suggest that they've hit the jackpot with the acquisition of former Lorient manager Le Bris. After nine matches, the Mackems sit top of the league, having won six of those nine.

Something that may have taken fans by surprise though, is the incredible form of O'Nien, who looks to be thriving in the Frenchman's system. With the tactical approach Le Bris employs requiring lots of energy and mobility, the 29-year-old fits the bill perfectly, hence his success in this role under the new manager.

Going into the new season, there were a lot of unknowns around the Stadium of Light. After last season's setback, many Sunderland fans will be feeling pleasantly surprised at how their side is shaping up early into the new campaign. Of course, there is a very long way to go, but 'Mr Sunderland' is proving to be what could be a vital asset in the pursuit of promotion.

There is nobody who'd love to lead the Black Cats back to the Premier League more than O'Nien. The club captain offers a wise, settled head in a squad that has undergone so many changes in recent years. To have someone still in the squad who'd been with the club in their darkest times could be a crucial bonus for Le Bris.

His passion and motivation, coupled with new-found confidence and ability in the French manager's system might be what Sunderland need to get over the line this time. It seems that even in Sunderland's worst years, they were smart with some of their signings, laying the foundations for a legend to be born.