Meet Thorgan Hazard, Lens' latest revenant
It's been a busy mercato for RC Lens, including the installation of a new manager in Dino Toppmöller, but the arrival of one player in particular -- former Belgian international Thorgan Hazard -- has caught the eye. Learn more about his story in our latest One To Watch.
An early start across the border
Born just over the border with Belgium in the town of La Louviere, Hazard is the son of two footballers. After an early spell at local club Tubize, he followed his brother, Eden in coming to France, joining Lens' academy at the age of 14 in 2007. Playing alongside the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia and Raphäel Varane, he impressed, but found playing time hard to come by in the first team.
His play would attract the attention of Chelsea, and while he never made a first-team appearance, a pair of impressive spells with Belgian side Zulte Waregem revealed his talent. Besides helping the Flemish club to their best-ever finish in his second season, he earned his first cap for his country, narrowly missing out on making the squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Throwback to Thorgan Hazard at Lens 🌟🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/1IaWv2x3HZ
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 24, 2026
Success in Germany
A third spell on loan was spent with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, and it was there with Die Fohlen that he blossomed, playing nearly 200 times and cementing his status as a regular international. A subsequent move to Dortmund saw initial success, as he was a regular as BVB won the 2020/21 DFB-Pokal, but injuries and competition saw him struggle for playing time. After a fruitless loan spell with PSV, he moved back to Belgium, joining RSC Anderlecht in the summer of 2023.
After two seasons back in his native land, however, questions remained over Hazard's future as a footballer. Injuries, including a cruciate injury, had limited his appearances and his statistical contributions, and given his brother's rapid decline after a precocious start, there was no small element of wondering if his career was over. However, his final season with Les Mauve et Blanc was a cracking one, as he scored fifteen goals and set up another 11 across all competitions, helping Anderlecht reach the cup final.
𝟏𝟒 𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 🔙#Hazard2028 pic.twitter.com/PsB53BhGQf
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) July 14, 2026
New opportunity in a familiar place
Now back in France with his first professional club, Hazard has joined a slew of players brought back to Ligue 1 McDonald's by sporting director Jean-Louis Leca. Indeed, much of last season's success was built on strong campaigns by the likes of Florian Thauvin, Odsonne Édouard and Malang Sarr, all players who had developed in France before returning later in their careers.
Said Leca of the move, underscoring the importance of the player's impressive resumé, "His experience of the very highest level will be an asset for the team in this season which will see us return to the Champions League. His sense of family and simplicity brought us closer together. During the discussions, I felt his attachment to RC Lens and a strong desire to wear the colors of Lens in the Champions League."
Read more:
>> Théo Bair: Auxerre's Canadian striker back from the wilderness
