Sunderland have made their first move of the summer transfer window and it is a statement one. Sunderland have completed the signing of vastly experienced full-back Thomas Meunier. The Belgium defender has signed a two-year contract with Sunderland after leaving French club Lille. It is a signing that speaks volumes about the direction the Black Cats are heading — a club embarking on their first European campaign in over half a century, and now bolstered by a player who has spent his entire career competing at the very highest level.
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Free Transfer — A Smart Piece of Business
Meunier is available on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with French side Lille, where he spent the 2025-26 campaign. The Black Cats jumped ahead of Valencia and Hull City in the race to sign the right-back, who was undergoing a medical on Wearside on Tuesday. The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract at Sunderland and had already landed in Newcastle to complete a medical.
On July 15, 2026, Meunier joined Premier League club Sunderland on a two-year contract. The deal is done, confirmed, and Sunderland wasted no time in getting their man across the line ahead of their pre-season schedule.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Player | Thomas Meunier |
| Previous Club | Lille (Ligue 1) |
| Transfer Fee | Free Transfer |
| Contract Length | Two Years |
| Date of Birth | September 12, 1991 |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Height | 1.90m |
| Position | Right-Back |
| International Caps | 83 (Belgium) |
Why Sunderland Signed Thomas Meunier
Though Sunderland showed flexibility in their recruitment strategy to sign players such as Granit Xhaka and Nordi Mukiele last summer, the vast majority of their investment was in younger players, and as such they had one of the youngest squads in the Premier League. As they step into European competition for the first time in over 50 years, they feel a little extra experience and leadership in the squad would be very welcome, and the opportunity to land a player of Meunier’s standing was too good to pass up.
Sunderland are proud of the culture they have built behind the scenes at the Academy of Light, with Florent Ghisolfi and Regis Le Bris determined to establish the club consistently in the top ten of the Premier League. The feeling is that Meunier can reinforce that and help preserve and drive the standards in training and behind the scenes.
Meunier’s versatility could also be beneficial, having played at right-back and right midfield during his career.
Thomas Meunier — Career Profile
The 34-year-old has over 550 senior club appearances to his name after spells at the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, and Borussia Dortmund, as well as 83 caps for Belgium.
Meunier rose to prominence at Club Brugge from 2011 to 2016, featuring in 198 matches across the Belgian Pro League, cups, and European competitions, during which he contributed 20 goals and 22 assists.
From 2016 to 2020, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, accumulating 128 appearances with 13 goals and 22 assists in Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions, and the UEFA Champions League.
On June 25, 2020, it was announced that Meunier would be joining Borussia Dortmund from PSG on a four-year deal as a free agent. Meunier joined Borussia Dortmund in 2020, making 83 appearances with 3 goals and 8 assists in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League, and other competitions through 2023.
On February 7, 2024, Meunier moved to Trabzonspor in Turkey. On July 19, 2024, French club Lille announced the signing of Meunier on a two-year contract. In the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season, Thomas Meunier recorded 1 goal, 2 assists, 1,910 minutes, and an average FotMob rating of 7.11.
Career Club History
| Club | Years | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Excelsior Virton | 2009 – 2011 | Career beginnings |
| Club Brugge | 2011 – 2016 | 198 apps, 20 goals, 22 assists |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2016 – 2020 | 128 apps, 13 goals, 22 assists |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2020 – 2024 | 83 apps, 3 goals, 8 assists |
| Trabzonspor | 2024 | 19 apps, 1 goal, 7 assists |
| Lille | 2024 – 2026 | 60 apps, 2 goals, 3 assists |
| Sunderland | 2026 – Present | New chapter begins |
Honours and Trophies
Throughout his career, Thomas Meunier has won 14 titles, including the DFB Pokal (2020/21) with Borussia Dortmund, the Trophee des Champions on four occasions, the Coupe de France twice, and Ligue 1 three times with Paris Saint-Germain.
His achievements also include one Belgian league title, one Belgian Cup, three French League Cups, and three French Super Cups.
Domestically in Belgium, prior to his major club moves, he was honoured with the Young Professional Footballer of the Year award in 2014 for his breakout season at Club Brugge, reflecting early promise that translated to international success.
International Career — Belgium
Meunier appeared three times for the Red Devils at the 2026 World Cup and will add vital know-how to a Sunderland squad embarking on their first European season in 53 years.
On November 13, 2016, Meunier scored in the 8th minute in Belgium’s 8-1 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification win over Estonia to register his first ever senior international goal. On August 31, 2017, Meunier recorded his first career senior international hat-trick in Belgium’s 9-0 defeat of Gibraltar, a match in which he also recorded four assists.
Meunier scored the opener for Belgium in a 2-0 win over England in the third-place play-off at the 2018 World Cup.
Meunier speaks fluent French, Flemish, English, and German. His linguistic ability will make settling into the Sunderland dressing room a considerably smoother process.
Reaction — What Everyone Said
Meunier was effusive about his move to the Stadium of Light. He told the club’s official website: “I am hugely excited and honoured to join Sunderland. 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.”
The club’s Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said: “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.”
What This Signing Means for Sunderland
Meunier is Sunderland’s first signing of the summer as the Wearsiders look to build on last season’s seventh-placed finish in the Premier League.
Meunier is absolutely coming to Sunderland to compete and to play, but at 34 will be arriving fully understanding his place and role within the squad. Last year, Granit Xhaka made a mockery of chat around his age by playing regularly and covering huge distances week in, week out. Meunier will be hoping to write a similarly impressive chapter.
The signing looks to spell the end of Sunderland’s pursuit of Lutsharel Geertruida on a permanent deal, with the expectation now behind the scenes that the popular loanee will now move on elsewhere.
FAQs
How much did Sunderland pay for Thomas Meunier?
Meunier joins the Black Cats on a free transfer after his contract at Lille expired at the end of last season.
How long is Thomas Meunier’s contract at Sunderland?
The 34-year-old right-back has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light.
What clubs did Thomas Meunier play for before Sunderland?
The 34-year-old has over 550 senior club appearances to his name after spells at the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, and Borussia Dortmund. He also had spells at Trabzonspor and Lille.
What is the significance of this signing for Sunderland?
As they step into European competition for the first time in over 50 years, they feel a little extra experience and leadership in the squad would be very welcome, and the opportunity to land a player of Meunier’s standing was too good to pass up.
Did Thomas Meunier play at the 2026 World Cup?
Meunier was with the Belgian squad at the World Cup, featuring three times before they were knocked out by Spain.
