Sunderland have secured the signing of seasoned Belgian right-back Thomas Meunier on a two-year contract, bolstering their squad ahead of their upcoming Premier League and Europa League campaigns. Meunier, 34, joins the club as a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Lille, marking Sunderland’s first acquisition in the summer transfer window.

Meunier arrives with extensive international experience, having earned 83 caps for Belgium and recently returning from World Cup duty. His club career includes notable spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, where he featured prominently in European competitions, registering 43 UEFA Champions League appearances and 33 Europa League matches.

The player expressed enthusiasm about his move to Sunderland, emphasizing the club’s ambition and commitment to progress as key factors in his decision. “Competing in Europe was also a big factor,” Meunier said, highlighting his readiness to contribute both on and off the pitch.

Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Meunier brings a combination of physical presence and attacking capabilities from the right-back position. His addition is expected to create competition for Northern Ireland international Trai Hume and may allow Sunderland to reposition Nordi Mukiele from full-back to centre-back, providing tactical flexibility for manager Régis Le Bris.

Sunderland’s preparation gains momentum as they look to build on last season’s efforts and navigate the challenges of competing on multiple fronts, including their second consecutive Premier League season and participation in the Europa League.