OTD: SIMON MIGNOLET SIGNED

On this day in 2010, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet signed for Sunderland. After beginning his career at second division Belgian side Sint-Truiden, Mignolet joined on a five-year contract for a fee around £2 million.

During his time on Wearside, he made just over 100 appearances and was seen as a world class footballer, with a sensible and level-headed mindset both on and off the pitch. He was hailed as ‘the best in the Premiership’ with Schmeichel-like tactics when closing down an opponent in one-on-one situations.

Throughout his 1st few months at the club, his position as first team keeper was cemented, with then manager Steve Bruce regularly choosing him over Keiren Westwood. In his second season at the club, Mignolet suffered injuries, but played every single league minute of the succeeding season– and alongside gaining a multitude of Man of the Match awards, kept numerous clean sheets.

It was three years after he arrived on Wearside that a £9 million offer was accepted, and the starlet headed to Liverpool. During the 2013-14 season, he performed well, starting regularly and maintaining numerous clean sheets, certainly making an impact on Brendan Rodgers’ side. He was given a MOTM award on multiple occasions, even ifa goal found the back of the net. Mignolet showed his skill and determination in several games, even making nine saves in one match against Everton!

Heading into the 2014/15 season, he was clearly in favour with the gaffer. However, his run of first team starts came to an end– with Brad Jones being named in the starting XI. He was dropped from the team for an indefinite period following this upheaval but was shortly appearing again after Jones sustained an injury.

In 2016, he signed a new five-year deal with the club, going on to pulls off some incredible saves, stopping shots from some of the most formidable of opponents – cementing his growing reputation, but it clearly wasn’t enough to cement a permanent place on the team sheet.

And, sadly, as new signings came in and out of the club – Mignolet starts became more and more erratic. However, despite this, he went on make his 200th appearance alongside Phillipe Coutinho – a true show of commitment to the reds.

As the months went on, he began to play fewer and fewer league clashes, and was resigned to domestic cup games – of which was not satisfactory for such a previously invaluable player. After an offer came in from Club Brugge in 2019, Mignolet made the move back onto home soil – and has featured regularly in their team ever since as he nears 300 appearances for the club. Back in Belgium, he's won four league titles, the Belgian Cup and a Belgian Super Cup.