Thomas Meunier has completed a move to Sunderland as a free agent following his departure from Lille OSC. The 34-year-old Belgian international joins the English club having only recently returned from the World Cup, where Belgium were eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals.
The experienced right-back spent two seasons with Lille following his arrival from Turkish side Trabzonspor in the summer of 2024. During his first campaign with Les Dogues, Meunier made 46 appearances across all competitions, contributing two goals and one assist. He maintained his importance to Bruno Genesio‘s squad throughout the 2025-26 season, registering 35 appearances, two goals and three assists as the club again finished third in the French top flight.
In total, the Bastogne-born defender featured 81 times for the Ligue 1 side, establishing himself as a key figure in their defensive unit before opting to make the switch to English football.
Meunier cited the club’s ambitions as a key factor in his decision to join the Black Cats. He described being “impressed by the ambition, the vision and the desire to move forward” at the Tyne and Wear outfit.
The move represents a new chapter for the veteran defender, who brings significant international experience to Wearside. Having previously played in Belgium, France and Turkey, he now faces the challenge of adapting to the demands of English football.
His arrival offers Sunderland additional depth and quality at right-back as they look to strengthen their defensive options. The free transfer allows the club to acquire a player with extensive top-flight experience across multiple European leagues without paying a transfer fee.
Meunier’s switch comes at a stage in his career where he will be expected to provide both on-field contributions and leadership to his new teammates. His recent World Cup involvement suggests he remains at a competitive level as he enters this latest phase of his career.