Thorgan Hazard has completed a move back to Racing Club de Lens, the Ligue 1 club confirmed on Monday evening. The Belgian international joins Lens on a free transfer after his contract with Anderlecht expired, signing a deal that will keep him at the club until 2028.
This return marks a homecoming for Hazard, who initially joined the Lens academy 19 years ago. He progressed through the youth ranks, eventually featuring for the club’s reserve team and playing alongside future stars such as Geoffrey Kondogbia and Raphaël Varane before departing in 2012. He had a spell in Ligue 2 with Lens during the 2011-2012 season.
Since leaving Lens, Hazard has enjoyed a career spanning several European leagues. He first moved to Chelsea in 2012 before spells with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, and most recently, Anderlecht, where he spent the last three seasons. The forward has earned 47 caps for Belgium, scoring 9 goals for the national team.
Lens’s sporting director, Jean-Louis Leca, expressed his delight at the signing, stating that the return of a former player is a “beautiful symbol”, particularly as Hazard is a product of the club’s youth system. The move allows Hazard to return to the French top flight and compete in European competitions with Lens, who secured their place in Ligue 1 for another season.
The transfer comes as Lens also confirmed the departure of Angelo Fulgini, who has returned to Saudi Arabia. Hazard’s arrival provides a boost to Lens’s attacking options as they look to build on their recent success. His experience and familiarity with the club are expected to be valuable assets.
