Done deal: ex-BVB man Thomas Meunier joins the Premier League | OneFootball

Only a few professional footballers still manage to make the jump to the English Premier League at the age of 34. Thomas Meunier has done just that. The former Borussia Dortmund player will celebrate his 35th birthday in September – as an AFC Sunderland player.

Meunier signed a contract with the Black Cats until 2028. His spell at OSC Lille had ended at the end of June after two years. The right-back had already seemed on the verge of joining Valencia CF, but then opted for Sunderland instead. The English top-flight club officially announced this on Wednesday (15 July).

Between 2020 and 2024, Meunier, most recently part of Belgium’s World Cup squad, wore the BVB shirt. He made 83 appearances, scoring three goals and setting up another eight. In 2021, he won the DFB-Pokal with the Black and Yellows. In the 4–1 final victory over RB Leipzig, then head coach Edin Terzic (43) brought him on in the 89th minute for two-goal scorer Jadon Sancho (26).

Playing in Europe with Sunderland

After leaving Dortmund, the Walloon initially moved to the Turkish Süper Lig with Trabzonspor. He then joined Lille.

Florent Ghisolfi (41), AFC’s sporting director, is delighted about the high-profile new signing, who has 83 international caps. “He brings a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism, as well as real quality both defensively and offensively,” he says in glowing terms about Meunier. The former BVB professional is a player who knows “what it takes to be successful.” He is convinced that the 34-year-old’s mentality and character “will have a positive impact on the team.”

Photo: Getty Images

After Belgium’s exit in the World Cup quarter-finals, the full-back is enjoying his well-earned holiday. He will join the squad at the beginning of August. “The Premier League is one of the most balanced and exciting leagues in the world,” says Meunier. “The prospect of playing on the European stage also played an important role in my decision,” the veteran emphasizes, “because as a player you always want to measure yourself against the best teams and compete for titles.” After finishing seventh last season, Sunderland will begin their Europa League campaign.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.