Sunderland Announce Lille Signing

English club Sunderland has officially announced the signing of defender Thomas Meunier as their first new addition for the summer transfer window. The 34-year-old Belgian international arrives on a free transfer after his contract expired with French side Lille, where he spent the last two seasons. With over 550 club appearances and 83 caps for the "Red Devils" national team, Meunier will bring a wealth of experience to Régis Le Bris' squad.

This marks the experienced right-back's first stint in England, having previously played for Club Brugge in his home country, Paris Saint-Germain and Lille in France, Borussia Dortmund in Germany, and Trabzonspor in Turkey. With Brugge, he won a league title in the 2015-16 season and the Belgian Cup in 2014-15. At PSG, he lifted the Ligue 1 trophy three times, secured two French Cups, and was a three-time winner of the Coupe de la Ligue. He also won the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund in the 2020-21 season. Sunderland will compete in the Europa League next season, and Thomas Meunier, with his 91 career appearances in European competitions, will be crucial to their performance in the continent's second-tier tournament.