Veteran Belgian defender Thomas Meunier has joined Premier League side Sunderland on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract with the newly promoted club.
The 34-year-old arrives after leaving French outfit Lille and brings a wealth of top-level experience, having previously played in Belgium, Germany, Turkey and France during an accomplished club career.
Meunier, who has earned 83 caps for Belgium, was part of the country’s celebrated “golden generation”, with his most recent major tournament ending in a World Cup quarter-final defeat to Spain.
Speaking after completing the move, Meunier said he was delighted to begin a new chapter in his career and described Sunderland as an ambitious club with an exciting long-term project.
The experienced full-back admitted that the opportunity to play in the Premier League had long been one of his ambitions, describing it as one of the most competitive leagues in world football.
He also revealed that Sunderland’s participation in the UEFA Europa League played a significant role in his decision, saying the chance to compete against Europe’s top clubs and challenge for trophies was an important factor.
During his spell at Paris Saint-Germain between 2016 and 2020, Meunier won three Ligue 1 titles before continuing his career elsewhere in Europe.
Sunderland’s director of football, Florent Ghisolfi, welcomed the signing, praising Meunier’s experience, leadership qualities and professionalism.
Ghisolfi said the Belgian understands what is required to compete at the highest level and believes his mentality and character will have a positive influence both on and off the pitch.
