At the time, the fee involved may not have looked like a bargain compared to Sunderlands transfer policy back in 2000, but in Premier League standards it certainly was for a player of Huchisons abilities; after all, over £5m had already been splashed out for a teenage forward by then. While it was only the same amount paid for another Geordie whod left the Stadium of Light under a cloud. After Sunderlands entire midfield had struggled to muster more than a goal apiece the previous year, Hutchison found the net regularly, once he had got off the mark. Hed celebrated scoring at Newcastle, put Chelsea to the sword at the Bridge and thumped one past his old club, Liverpool, and hed make it to double figures by the end of the season and declare how happy he was to be at Sunderland. That undying love for the red and whites wouldnt last beyond the summer though, as Hutchisons head appeared to be turned; perhaps it was just a case of money, or maybe Sunderlands summer spending wasnt as ambitious as he would have liked. Whatever the reason, the Scottish international had decided he was off. His goals the previous term had helped the club to another seventh place finish while the New Year had promised so much more. But given that, as well as the club more than doubling its money in only one year, at £2.5m, Hutchinson, although the most expensive on this list still proved to be a bargain, of sorts.
