Patrick van Aanholt joined Sunderland in July 2014, swapping Chelsea’s blue for red and white ahead of the 2014-15 Premier League season.
The Dutch defender became an instant hit on Wearside for his pace and desire to break forward, but it wasn’t until his second season that fans really saw PvA take his game to another level.
van Aanholt notched one goal in his debut season in an Emirates FA Cup tie against Leeds United, but he also contributed five assists against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Hull City and Palace.
But Sam Allardyce’s arrival marked a new chapter for the club and it wasn’t long before van Aanholt flourished under his stewardship.
The Dutchman expertly crossed for Steven Fletcher to equalise at Everton in November before he went on to notch his first league goal for Sunderland when his driven free-kick scuppered Stoke City’s resistance in a 2-0 win.
Impressive performances from the pacey full back followed and in January he marked the New Year with his best month on Wearside with three goals and an assist.
His strike against Aston Villa got the Lads on their way to a 3-1 victory before he thought he had netted another goal days later when his strike at Swansea City deflected in.
Despite it going down as an own goal, van Aanholt wasn’t to be outdone and with five minutes left his cross was turned home by Jermain Defoe who completed his hat-trick and a resounding 4-2 victory for the Black Cats.
The left-back’s fine form continued in their next match and he was on the scoresheet on the stroke of half-time as he fired the Lads into a lead at Tottenham Hotspur from a tight angle.
Sunderland returned to the north east a week later and PvA’s strike, again seconds before the midway interval, earned the Lads a valuable point against Bournemouth.
But while the Lads struggled to climb up the Premier League table, van Aanholt rekindled his fine form in the final two home games as he assisted Fabio Borini’s equaliser against Chelsea before Defoe’s finish sealed a breath-taking 3-2 win.
With survival all but secured, PvA’s intelligent free-kick got the Lads on their way to a 3-0 win against Everton to make sure Sunderland’s league status was guaranteed for a tenth year in the top flight.