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Thorgan Hazard has sealed a heartfelt homecoming to his childhood team RC Lens, signing a long-term contract after parting ways with Anderlecht. The Belgian international, who is the younger brother of former Chelsea and Real Madrid legend Eden Hazard, returns to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis fourteen years after first emerging as a professional with the French club.

Hazard’s homecoming

Lens have announced the signing of Thorgan Hazard on a free transfer, with the 33-year-old agreeing to stay until 2028. Previously a free agent following the end of his deal with Belgian heavyweights Anderlecht, Hazard’s return represents a full-circle moment for the versatile attacking midfielder, who began his football journey at Lens’ renowned La Gaillette academy as a teenager.

After leaving Lens in 2012 to join Chelsea alongside his brother Eden, Thorgan built an impressive career across Europe with stints at Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund. Now, he rejoins the club that gave him his professional debut in Ligue 2, bringing vast experience and leadership to a side aiming to sustain its position among France’s top-tier teams.

Leca praises the experienced signing

Lens sporting director Jean-Louis Leca described Hazard’s signing as both a symbolic and strategic move. In an interview with the club’s official website, Leca expressed his excitement at welcoming back a “pure product” of the La Gaillette academy, especially as the club prepares for the challenges of European football.

Leca said, “The return of a former member of the house is a beautiful symbol, even more so for a pure product of La Gaillette. With Thorgan, we welcome a player who has 522 club matches, 64 European matches and 47 caps for Belgium. His experience at the highest level will be a great asset for the team as we return to the Champions League this season.”

A career across Europe’s elite leagues

After limited playing time at Chelsea, Hazard moved to Zulte Waregem in 2013, where his outstanding season — 14 goals and a league-best 16 assists — earned him the Belgian Footballer of the Year award in January 2014. He then joined Borussia Monchengladbach permanently in 2015, spending five productive seasons there before transferring to Borussia Dortmund in 2019. During his time in Germany, he helped Dortmund to a Bundesliga runner-up finish and a DFB-Pokal triumph. Internationally, he represented Belgium at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and Euro 2020, and also lifted a domestic cup with PSV Eindhoven during a loan spell in 2022–23.

Back in the iconic number nine

Hazard moved to Anderlecht in 2023 and, despite a severe knee injury that sidelined him for eight months in 2024, he bounced back impressively during the 2025–26 season. He recorded 20 goal contributions in the Belgian league — including a hat-trick and a player-of-the-month accolade — and played a key role in guiding Anderlecht to the Croky Cup final.

He ended the season with 13 goals in 36 appearances, form that has now earned him a return to Lens. The Belgian star is set to don the iconic number 9 jersey as the club readies itself for another venture into the UEFA Champions League.