Destiny! Seven years after asking for a Sunderland stream on Twitter, Meunier joins Black Cats

Seven years after asking social media where he could watch a Sunderland match, Thomas Meunier has completed one of the most unexpected full-circle transfers of the ongoing transfer window by joining the Black Cats.

Shortly after Sunderland confirmed the signing of the experienced Belgium international, supporters rediscovered a post Meunier shared back in 2019, when he was searching for a live stream of the club's clash against Portsmouth.

At the time, few could have imagined that the former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund defender, would one day be pulling on Sunderland's famous red and white stripes.

Now, that unlikely story has become reality.

Meunier arrives at the Stadium of Light after leaving Lille at the end of his contract, having made 81 appearances over two seasons for the Ligue 1 club. Last season alone, the 33-year-old featured 35 times across all competitions, contributing four goals and four assists during his spell in northern France.

Before returning to France with Lille, Meunier spent four years at Borussia Dortmund after another successful four-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain, where he won three Ligue 1 titles. He also had a spell with Turkish side Trabzonspor.

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The experienced full-back now joins an ambitious Sunderland side preparing for European football after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season, just a year after earning promotion from the Championship.

The Black Cats have already fended off interest in captain Granit Xhaka these days, rejecting an £8 million bid from Chelsea before the Swiss midfielder committed his future to the club.

For Sunderland supporters, however, Meunier's arrival is about more than another experienced signing. Thanks to one old social media post, it is a transfer that feels as though football had been quietly writing the script years in advance.