OTD: YANN M'VILA SIGNED

On this day in 2015, defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila signed on a season-long loan deal from Rubin Kazan.

Having first came through at Rennes, he joined Russian side Rubin Kazan in January 2013. After a decent start in Kazan, he ended up falling out with manager Rinat Bilyaletdinov during the winter break of the 2013/14 season after he went AWOL. M’Vila would spend the 2014/15 season on loan at Inter Milan but would once again have a dispute with his manager, this time Roberto Mancini. Then came the summer of 2015 where M’Vila made the move to Wearside on a season-long loan. He played his first game in Red and White for the under-21’s against Norwich City, in which he was sent off for violent conduct. Strong start.

Luckily this was not a sign of things to come as Yann became a fan favourite very quickly, scoring his first and only goal for the club with a free kick away at Aston Villa. He won Man of the Match in the first Wear-Tyne derby of the season, playing a key part in one of the many 3-0 victories against the visitors. M’Vila spoke openly about his desire to stay at the Stadium of Light should the club survive relegation. Not only did Sunderland stay up but we also sent Newcastle United down thanks to a 3-0 victory over Everton. The saying ‘never fall in love with a loan player’ was never truer when M’Vila’s return to Wearside never materialised. He even posted on Instagram in September 2016, expressing his frustration that a move never materialised.

He would return to play for Rubin Kazan until 2018 before spells at Saint-Etienne and Olympiacos. However, in 2024 he was linked with a surprise return to the club, but the interest was never concrete and he would eventually sign for West Bromwich Albion. He most recently plied his trade for Caen but departed the club in July 2026 and is currently a free agent.