What Can Sunderland Expect From Thomas Meunier?
· Yahoo Sports
Before Sunderland’s Checkatrade Trophy final against Portsmouth in 2019, Belgian defender Thomas Meunier, who at the time played for PSG, unexpectedly asked on Twitter if anyone had a streaming link for the game.
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Fast-forward seven years and he’s signed for Sunderland, who are about to embark on a Europa League adventure rather than one in the Checkatrade Trophy. But what can he bring to the table at the Stadium of Light?
Domestic and European Experience
Firstly, Thomas Meunier will bring a great deal of experience to our squad. From humble beginnings working as a postman and in a car parts factory at the age of 18, when his football career looked like it might not take off, he has now played at the highest level in Europe for around 15 years.
After breaking through in the Belgian third tier with Royal Excelsior Virton, Meunier earned a move to Club Brugge in 2011, where he spent five seasons and made 198 appearances. During that time, he won the Belgian Cup in 2015 (alongside Laurens De Bock), as well as the Belgian league the following season.
After playing at Euro 2016, Meunier moved to PSG on a four-year contract. During those four years, he won the French league three times, the French Cup twice and the French League Cup twice. He registered an impressive 13 goals and 22 assists from right-back and played alongside greats such as Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. He also started five matches during PSG’s run to the Champions League final in 2020, which they ultimately lost.
Following his time at PSG, the defender signed for Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer and went on to make 83 appearances. In his first season, Dortmund won the German Cup and Meunier came off the bench in the final against an RB Leipzig side featuring Nordi Mukiele.
Between February and July 2024, Meunier played for Trabzonspor in Turkey before joining French side Lille on a two-year contract. Across those two seasons, he made 81 appearances as Lille finished fifth and then third. He played nine Champions League matches during the 2024 – 25 season, including a victory over Real Madrid, as Lille reached the round of 16. Last season, he also featured in eight Europa League matches.
With 43 Champions League appearances and 33 Europa League appearances to his name, he will prove to be an astute addition when it comes to managing the increased workload that European football brings. He has also scored six European goals and provided 11 assists in European competition, so hopefully he can deliver in key moments for Sunderland next season.
International Experience
On top of his club experience, Meunier has been capped 83 times by Belgium and scored 10 international goals during their ‘golden generation’. After making his debut in 2013, he appeared at three World Cups and two European Championships, scoring in the third-place play-off against England in 2018.
Most recently, he made three appearances at the 2026 World Cup, including coming off the bench to help kickstart Belgium’s round-of-16 comeback against Senegal by registering an assist.
Where Will He Fit Into Sunderland’s Team?
As well as bringing vast domestic, continental and international experience, Thomas Meunier looks to be an astute signing who will add balance and quality to Sunderland’s squad.
His profile appears to be very well suited to the Premier League, even though he has never played in England before. Standing at 6ft 3in, Meunier will bring a physical presence to Sunderland’s defence while still offering excellent technical quality. Across 518 career appearances to date, he has scored 42 goals and provided another 63 assists – averaging a goal contribution every five games, which is an outstanding return for a full-back.
At the end of last season, Meunier ranked ninth among full-backs in the French league for expected assists per 90 minutes, showing that he still offers a significant attacking threat.
Additionally, despite his age, he remains a very strong presser. Last season, he ranked fourth among French league full-backs for winning possession in the final third. A combination of that tenacity, pressing ability, height and aerial strength makes him an excellent fit for Régis Le Bris’ style of play.
Last season, he even made it into L’Équipe‘s French league Team of the Season, featuring alongside Ballon d’Or winner – and Sunderland fan – Ousmane Dembélé.
Even if he doesn’t start every match, I believe his experience coming off the bench will be vital in seeing out important games. The added depth he brings at right-back also allows Nordi Mukiele to continue playing at centre-back, where he excelled during the closing weeks of last season.
He very much fits Sunderland’s current model of bringing in a couple of experienced heads to help guide the club through an unprecedented period in its history and looks to be an astute signing on a free transfer.