Sunderland sign Belgium veteran Thomas Meunier on two-year deal

Sunderland have completed the signing of Belgian international Thomas Meunier on a free transfer, with the defender putting pen to paper on a two-year contract. The 34-year-old arrives after his deal at Ligue 1 side Lille expired, bringing more than 550 senior club appearances to the Stadium of Light. Meunier's career has taken him through Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain – where he won three league titles – Borussia Dortmund and Turkish outfit Trabzonspor. On the international stage, Meunier has earned 83 caps for Belgium and represented his country at the 2026 World Cup. He becomes Sunderland's first acquisition of the summer window following the departures of forward Eliezer Mayenda and midfielder Dan Neil. "We are delighted to welcome Thomas to Sunderland," said director of football Florent Ghisolfi. "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." Meunier will join his new teammates in early August and is looking forward to playing in the Premier League and helping Sunderland in their first European campaign in 53 years. "I'm very happy to be here and to begin this new chapter in my career," Meunier said. "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. I hope I can bring my experience to the squad, both on and off the pitch."