OTD: STEPHANE SESSEGNON DEBUT

On this day in 2011, former Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon made his debut for the club. He made just shy of 100 appearances during his time here, scoring 18 and assisting 17.

Sessegnon signed for Sunderland in the January transfer window of 2011 for £6 million, with Darren Bent heading for the Stadium of Light exit door after a bust up with manager Steve Bruce. The Benin international forward signed on a three-and-a-half year deal from French giants Paris Saint-Germain and would make his debut just days later against Chelsea.

His first goal in red and white came against Wigan Athletic at the Stadium of Light. He converted a penalty which he himself had won, after being tripped by the Latics' centre half. The Black Cats would go on to win 4-2 that day despite both Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan going off injured. He would soon become a fans' favourite and embed himself into the starting XI. He got another couple of goals that season against Wolverhampton Wanderers and on the final day of the season against West Ham United, as Sunderland cruised to a 10th place finish in the Premier League.

The following season he struggled to get off the mark as SAFC also struggled to get out of the starting blocks. Bruce was axed and replaced by Martin O'Neill, Sess did bag his first of the season before that though, when he was on target against Bolton Wanderers and then again against Aston Villa the following week. He would score a crucial extra time winner away to Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup to take us into a tie at home to Arsenal, which we went on to win.

However, it was bittersweet that season as he was sent for an early bath in the Wear-Tyne derby after being judged to have elbowed Cheick Tiote in the chest in the second half. The game finished 1-1 thanks to an early Nicklas Bendtner penalty but a late equaliser from Ameobi broke Sunderland hearts that day, especially after Simon Mignolet had saved Demba Ba's penalty.

He would have more luck the following season at St. James' Park as he gave the Lads a first half lead, after beating several Newcastle United players and rolling home in the bottom corner to set SAFC on our way to a 3-0 win in Paolo Di Canio's second game in charge. He then scored the only goal of the game as Di Canio's men defeated Everton 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland edged closer to Premier League safety but his season was cut short after he was dismissed away to Villa in a 6-1 Monday Night Football defeat.

A falling out with manager Paolo Di Canio meant his Sunderland career was over too. Despite him being a fans' favourite and a key player in the previous season's team, the Benin star was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £6 million in September 2013, including add-ons. His first goal for the Baggies came in that infamous 3-0 defeat for Sunderland at the Hawthorns when the volatile PDC came over and started to wind the fans up by standing there with his arms folded and almost calling the travelling faithful out! Safe to say that Di Canio was also sent packing days later!

He returned to France in 2016, moving to Montpellier, before a spell in Turkey with Genclerbirligi. Sessegnon ended his career with Sirens in Malta, offocially announcing his retirement in May 2025. He has 24 goals in 88 caps for Benin, making him their all time top goalscorer.