During the summer of 2005, Hoyte was linked with a loan move to Ipswich Town, but Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger made clear he wanted the defender to play Premiership football. He was loaned to Sunderland on 31 August for the 2005–06 Premier League season; as part of the deal, Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom joined Arsenal as cover for Jens Lehmann. Hoyte made 31 appearances in all competitions for the club and scored once, in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United in April 2006.