Sunderland have completed the signing of veteran Belgian defender Thomas Meunier on a two-year contract following his exit from Lille. The 34-year-old boasts a career spanning over 550 professional appearances, including stints at Paris St-Germain—where he secured three league titles—Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund, and Trabzonspor.
With 83 international caps to his name, Meunier also participated in three matches during the 2026 World Cup. He arrives as the first recruit of the campaign for the Black Cats, filling a void left by the exits of Dan Neil and Eliezer Mayenda.
Director of football Florent Ghisolfi praised the defender’s extensive history at elite clubs and his leadership capabilities. Ghisolfi noted that Meunier’s professional mentality is expected to benefit the squad significantly. Meunier, who will join his new teammates in August, expressed enthusiasm for the challenge of playing in the Premier League and helping Sunderland navigate their upcoming European campaign, marking the club’s first return to continental competition in over five decades.
