Sunderland announced the signing of Belgium international Thomas Meunier on a two-year contract on July 15, following his departure from French club Lille [1, 2]. Meunier, 34, joins Sunderland on a free transfer after making 35 appearances across all competitions for Lille last season [1, 2].
The defender has made over 550 senior club appearances in his career, featuring for teams including Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, and Trabzonspor in Turkey [3, 1, 2]. At PSG, he won three league titles. Internationally, Meunier has earned 83 caps for Belgium and represented his country at the 2026 World Cup [3, 1, 2].
Sunderland director of football Florent Ghisolfi praised Meunier’s experience and leadership, saying, "We are delighted to welcome Thomas to Sunderland. He brings a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism, alongside real quality in both defensive and attacking phases of the game" [3].
Meunier expressed excitement about joining Sunderland and competing in the Premier League. He said, "I'm very happy to be here and to begin this new chapter in my career. The Premier League is one of the most competitive and exciting leagues in the world, and it's a challenge I've wanted to experience." He also highlighted Sunderland’s return to European competition after 53 years, calling it a big factor in his decision [3]. "When I spoke with the club, I was impressed by the ambition, the project and the desire to keep moving forward. Competing in Europe was also a big factor in my decision because, as a player, you always want to test yourself against the best teams and compete for trophies" [3].
Meunier is Sunderland’s first signing of the current season, following the departures of forward Eliezer Mayenda and midfielder Dan Neil [3]. He is expected to join the Sunderland squad for pre-season training in early August [3].
