Sunderland officially announced on Wednesday morning that they have signed experienced full-back Thomas Meunier on a two-year contract on a free transfer.
The 34-year-old has been a free agent since his contract with Ligue 1 side Lille expired earlier this month, making him play in the Premier League for the first time in his career.
He played for Belgium three times at this summer’s World Cup and will take an extended break before taking part in pre-season, although he did not feature in the quarter-final defeat to Spain.
Meunier started 21 of Lille’s 25 Ligue 1 games in 2025/26, so he does not arrive as an experienced player who rarely plays.
Where Thomas Meunier fits in at Sunderland
The Belgian defender has never started more than 11 games outside of right-back or right-wing-back during his club career, so he is not a versatile enough player to be likely to play much time outside his main position.
Thomas Meunier’s club career | |
|---|---|
position | game |
R.B. | 380 |
RWB | 47 |
RW | 11 |
L.L.B. | 5 |
C.B. | 5 |
CM | 2 |
LW | 2 |
lb | 1 |
This means the 34-year-old star will be competing directly for the right-back spot alongside Nordi Mukiele and Try Hume, or for the right-wing-back role if Regis Le Bris moves to a back-three formation.
Having a Europa League campaign to look forward to means there is plenty of time for the Black Cats to share, with the former Borussia Dortmund talent potentially becoming first choice in Europe.
Mukiele and Hume could compete for a regular starting spot in the Premier League, allowing the veteran full-back to play in the Europa League and two other young options being rested.
But the Black Cats can’t expect him to have much of an impact at the top end of the field. That’s because he had only three goals and four assists in 77 appearances in his previous two club campaigns.
Sunderland in contract talks with Thomas Meunier’s dream partner
Meunier lacks an attacking threat as a right-back, so it is important the club brings in a top-quality right-wing option who can play ahead of an experienced defender.
Dutch newspaper FR12 has reported that Sunderland are pursuing a deal for Feyenoord winger Anis Hadji Moussa in the summer transfer window.
The paper claims that the Black Cats, along with Como and Paris FC, are already in touch to begin talks with the Eredivisie giants over what it would take to land the Algerian star.
However, Feyenoord are seeking a transfer fee of around £32 million for the 24-year-old attacker, adding that they have not yet received a concrete bid.
Sunderland transfer target fact file | |
|---|---|
status | Anis Hadji Musa |
year | twenty four |
current club | feyenoord |
favorite feet | left |
desired position | right wing |
value | £32m |
Performance history | 178 |
Career Objective | 42 |
career assist | twenty one |
The Algerian international could be worth spending such a sum as he would be the perfect signing to partner Meunier on the right flank next season.
Hadji Moussa is a proven talent in European football, having scored two goals in eight Europa League games and three in 11 Champions League games for Feyenoord, and could fill in Meunier’s lack of attacking power as a right-back.
But the 24-year-old wing wizard won’t just help the Belgians in European competition, as his league performance in the Netherlands suggests he has a chance to play as a forward in the Premier League as well.
In 2025-26, the £32m-rated winger scored 11 goals from 6.78xG in the Eredivisie, creating a whopping 16 ‘big chances’ and 11.14xA, but his creativity was credited with just six assists.
No Sunderland player created more than 13 ‘big chances’ or recorded more than 5.92xA in the Premier League last season, suggesting Hadji Moussa will be the standout creator for the Black Cats.
His 11 goals in the Eredivisie were at least four more than any Sunderland player had produced in the league, with Brian Brobby being the team’s top scorer with seven goals.
Hadji Moussa could therefore become Le Blis’ star attacker on the right, being Le Blis’ biggest goal threat and best creator, making up for Meunier’s lack of consistent attacking quality at right-back, which is why he would be a dream for the latest signing.
