For all those reasons it's a good deal.
But,
what's left behind and more importantly what happens next?
We are used to seeing out top strikers go. Jerome last year, Earnie before that. We received big money fees for Collins and Gabbidon from West Ham.
Do we lack ambition? It's difficult. As much as I'd like us to keep these players sometimes it's just not possible, whether for financial reasons or deals that just cannot be refused.
It's what happens to the money now that matters. Dave Jones must be allowed to strenghten the squad and not be told the money has been ploughed into the stadium or used to pay debts. Ridsdale has said enough times Jones has money available, now he should have even more.
"I can't understand why fans would be annoyed," Ridsdale told the Western Mail. "It gives us the chance now to strengthen our squad even further because I believe we've already been doing that throughout the summer with the players we've brought in.
"I can assure Cardiff City supporters we will be going into next season with a stronger squad than we had last season, that has always been our aim and that will be the case. As a matter of urgency now I'm already enquiring about players, one maybe two strikers is our aim ahead of the new season.
"We will not be revealing how much we have available because it will alert other clubs and prices will go up," he continued.
"We'll work as we always do, Dave Jones will identify the players he wishes to bring in and we will do our best to get them."
We recovered from the loss of Earnie by bringing through Jerome, Chopra turned out to be an improvement on Cameron so who next? Who will this seasons star performer be and will we be mourning his loss this time next year. Who knows?
OK we lost our star striker, it was always likely to happen. With an aparrant sound financial base, a stadium project that's in build, a quality manager with a few bob to spend and a squad that's already seen 5 new signings come in and could be followed by a few more I don't think we are doing too bad.
Ridsdale continued
"He has gone for a price which was ten times what we paid for him and that has to be good business from a Cardiff City point of view.
"Like all clubs we said all along if an offer matched our valuation of a player then that player would be for sale.
"We believe £5m for Michael Chopra is the right valuation.
"That figure also triggered a clause in Michael's contract which meant we had to inform him that a club was in for him.
"When he was told of Sunderland's interest he said straight away that he wanted to talk to them."
If it all goes through then we wish Chopra all the best.