Sunderland summer signing Thomas Meunier will put the Black Cats before himself next season in his debut campaign for the club after arriving as a free agent.
New Sunderland signing Thomas Meunier has made an impressive selection admission ahead of his debut year with the Black Cats in the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
34-year-old defender Meunier has made clear that he will strive to be a positive figure in the Sunderland dressing room this season, even if he finds himself on Regis Le Bris’ substitutes bench, highlighting the professionalism of the seasoned full-back.
Meunier arrived at the Stadium of Light earlier this summer as a free agent following his exit from Ligue 1 outfit Lille, and remains the Black Cats’ only signing of the window thus far with the Premier League return less than two weeks away.
After several years at the elite level of European and international football, the former Paris Saint-Germain right-back brings a wealth of experience to Wearside, which will be imperative for Le Bris’ young squad as they navigate their second season in the Premier League and the Europa League venture.
Following his impressive debut performance for Sunderland, with his 45-minute cameo in the commanding 2-0 win over Ligue 1 giants RC Lens on Saturday, Meunier has explained that he is desperate to make an impact for Sunderland but is well aware of the quality alongside him in the dressing room.
Thomas Meunier in action for Belgium vs Senegal at the World Cup (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Thomas Meunier Makes Sunderland Selection Ambitions Clear
Meunier is in contention to start for Sunderland in the opening Premier League clash at Ipswich Town on August 22, with central defenders Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete unlikely to be fit to start the curtain-raiser trip.
From the Black Cats’ perspective, Le Bris is well-stocked with options at right-back, with Trai Hume continuing his impressive development in the pre-season preparations and Meunier’s former PSG teammate Mukiele also proving to be an outstanding player for Sunderland since his arrival last summer.
Meunier, who featured heavily at the World Cup for Belgium before they were knocked out by eventual-winners Spain in the quarter-finals, has outlined that he has no quarrels if he is forced ‘to sit on the bench’ given the calibre of player in his position with Le Bris' squad.
As quoted by the Sunderland Echo, Meunier said: "I have to play a bit more, to train a bit more with my teammates as well because I don't know them by heart, so I have to train with them and to see how we can match also.
"For example, against Lens on the pitch with Trai (Hume), it was perfect. We have a little bit of the same profile, as he can be offensive, he can be defensive. He can play inside, he can play outside.
"He's always there to work for the team, so I think we look a bit like each other on the pitch.
"Nordi (Mukiele), I know from Paris, but I didn't play with him. We will have to see.
"Of course, my ambition is always to play, but my ambition is also to get results with the team and through the team.
"If I have to sit on the bench, because the guys on the pitch are better than me, it will be no problem. I've never got any problem in almost 15 years of my career. It's not going to start now.”
The Belgian international added: "I'm the first transfer and I guess there will be many others.
"But of course, you play Europa League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, you can reach up to 60 games, and it's impossible to play them all. You have also injuries and things like this.
"So you know that you will be on the pitch at a certain point. When, how many times will you play, how many games... We will see. I'm there to help the team first, and after I will check for my own pleasure."
Although there is the caveat of it being a pre-season friendly, Meunier was in superlative form in the victory over last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up on Saturday, and even had a back-post headed goal ruled out in the closing stages of his first-half performance.
Le Bris is spoilt for choice at right-back with Meunier, Hume, and capable centre-back Mukiele to call upon next season, and the Belgian international certainly seems to be both an impressive and important addition for Sunderland heading into an inevitably testing campaign.
