Thomas Meunier to PSG: Latest Transfer Details, Comments and Reaction

Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Belgium international full-back Thomas Meunier from Club Brugge, the French champions announced on Sunday. 

The 24-year-old has been in fine form for Belgium at the summer’s 2016 UEFA European Championship after a strong season in the country’s top flight. Here is a look at what he’ll bring to the French capital:

Meunier has been at Brugge since 2011 and established himself as a regular energetic presence on the right flank for the club. The defender has also aided in some recent successes for the team, including their league title win in 2015-16 and the Belgian Cup triumph in the 2014-15, in which they beat bitter rivals Anderlecht in the final.

In recent seasons, one of the problem positions for Belgium has been the full-back spots, but his clever raids forward and willingness to overlap have given the Red Devils a different outlet on the flanks.

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Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe noted the influence of Meunier was actually key to Belgium’s progression into the knockout stages of the tournament:

PSG have evidently looked on in admiration, with new manager Unai Emery getting the defender into his squad ahead of the 2016-17 season.

It’ll be fascinating to see how the battle for the position in the team pans out. The Ligue 1 winners already have Serge Aurier, although he’s been in hot water as of late—he was suspended for insulting his team-mates and former manager Laurent Blanc on Persicope before he was arrested for an alleged assault on a police officer.

Despite these problems off the pitch, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson thinks the Ivory Coast star will still be the first choice regardless of Meunier's capture:

At 24 and with his stock on the up, Meunier needs to be playing regularly. And despite some strong performances on the big stage lately, the displays haven’t been to the standard that’d see him force a way into the starting XI at PSG.

But Meunier will back himself, and under the guidance of a coach such as Emery, he should get plenty of chances to make improvements in his game.

At the start of what is a new era for the Ligue 1 side following the departures of Blanc and talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for up-and-coming players in the Belgian’s mould, this could be an ideal time to make the switch to the Parc des Princes.