At 34, Meunier edges closer to La Liga switch after World Cup heroics

The clock struck 2 a.m. in Doha when Thomas Meunier’s phone buzzed with the next call to duty. Hours after setting up Romelu Lukaku’s winner against Senegal, the 34-year-old defender is one step from a new life in Spain. Free since July 1 after Lille’s release, Meunier is on the verge of joining Valencia, with all terms agreed in principle.

The move would reunite Meunier with La Liga, where he has spent five seasons at Club Brugge before Lille. Valencia’s need at right-back is acute: Thierry Correia has left and Dimitri Foulquier remains injured, leaving a gap Meunier’s experience is expected to fill immediately.

A final signature is not yet official, but the deal is in its closing stages. Once the last administrative details are resolved, Meunier will pen a new chapter in orange and black, replacing Correia in the Valencia backline.

Meunier’s World Cup cameo against Senegal underlined his value. Starting on the bench, he entered at half-time and delivered the assist for Lukaku’s decisive goal, proving at 34 he can still impact big games for the Diables Rouges.

Belgium’s World Cup campaign continues in the small hours of Tuesday, when they face the United States in the Round of 16. The two sides met in an emphatic friendly win in Atlanta in March, a match Meunier started at right-back.

Valencia’s coaching staff believe Meunier’s nous and composure will stabilise their right flank. The club views him as a ready-made solution rather than a long-term project, aligning with their immediate need to shore up the defence.

The official announcement may take time. Meunier remains with the national team in Qatar, where the Belgian delegation is preparing for the clash under the desert lights.

Diario AS reports the agreement covers all key terms, including personal conditions and a contract length tailored to Meunier’s age and profile. The club’s hierarchy has prioritised securing the deal before the transfer window tightens further.

For Meunier, the Valencia move represents continuity at the highest level. After seasons at Lille, he returns to a league he knows intimately, with the added motivation of playing in front of passionate crowds at the Mestalla.

The Diables Rouges’ Round of 16 tie against the United States is scheduled for 2 a.m. local time, a kick-off that will test Belgium’s depth and tactical flexibility ahead of a potential quarter-final berth.