Defender, Thomas Meunier has completed a free transfer to Sunderland on a two-year contract until June 2028.
Meunier’s move to Wearside comes just days after Belgium were eliminated by Spain at the Quarter-Final stage of the World Cup, during which his contract at Lille expired on 30 June.
The 34 year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Black Cats until June 2028 and will wear shirt number 12 this season.
“I am hugely excited and honoured to join Sunderland,” explained Meunier who is ready for a new challenge in English Football for the first time.
“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.
“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.”
Meunier added that he hopes that his years of experience will benefit the Black Cats.
“I hope I can bring my experience to the squad, both on and off the pitch.
“I’ve been fortunate to play in some fantastic teams throughout my career, and now I’m looking forward to giving everything for this club, helping my team-mates and building a strong connection with the supporters.
“I can’t wait to get started, meet everyone and play my first match in front of the fans.”
Sunderland’s Director of Football, Florent Ghisolfi is “delighted” to sign Meunier who he believes has the experience and understanding needed to help the club progress as they gear up for Europa League football this season on top of domestic commitments.
“We are delighted to welcome Thomas to Sunderland AFC – from the moment we started speaking, we felt he had a very positive feeling about the club.
“Throughout his career he has consistently performed at the highest level, representing some of Europe’s biggest clubs, and Belgium on the international stage.
“He brings a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism, alongside real quality in both defensive and attacking phases of the game.
“Thomas is a player who understands what it takes to compete for success, and we’re confident his mentality and character will have a positive influence on the squad.
“We believe he’ll make an important contribution on and off the pitch, and we’re excited to see him begin this new chapter with us. It feels like a great fit.”
Meunier began his career with RUS Saint-Ode then RUS Givry, Standard Liege and Virton at youth level, before he made his debut for Virton in January 2009 in a 1-1 draw against K.F.C. V.W. Hamme in a season which saw them relegated to Belgium’s Third Division.
He went on to score 16 goals in 52 total appearances before he moved to Club Brugge in January 2011 where he scored 20 goals in 198 appearances, and helped them win 2014-15 Belgian Cup followed by the Belgian Pro League a year later in his final season before he joined PSG in 2016.
His spell at PSG was successful with 13 goals in 128 appearances and 11 titles:
- 3 x Ligue 1
- 3 x Cope de la Ligue
- 3 x Trophee des Champions
- 2 x Coupe de France
Meunier left PSG for Borussia Dortmund in summer 2020 and scored three goals in 83 appearances across four seasons and won 2020-21 DFB-Pokal, despite managing just 24 appearances in his last two seasons due to a mixture of injuries and managerial preferences.
February 2024 saw Meunier move to Turkey with Trabzonspor where he delivered one goal in 19 appearances before he returned to France to join Lille, which saw him manage three goals in 81 appearances across the last two seasons.
Meunier represents Belgium at international level and made his senior debut in November 2013 in a 2-0 loss to Colombia, and has since gone on to net 10 goals in 83 appearances plus opened the scoring in their eventual 2-0 third-place play-off win over England at 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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