Timothee Pembele: France-DR Congo right-back returns to Le Havre from Sunderland

France-DR Congo defender Timothee Pembele has joined Le Havre AC from Sunderland, sealing a move back to the Ligue 1 club after his latest spell in English football. The 23-year-old right-back has signed a contract at Stade Oceane running until 30 June 2029.

Pembele, who plays primarily at right-back and stands at 1.83m, re-joins Le Havre from Sunderland, where he featured in the Championship after initially moving to England from Paris Saint-Germain in September 2023. He had already spent two separate loan spells with Le Havre across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns before the move was made permanent.

Born in Beaumont-sur-Oise and eligible for both France and DR Congo, Pembele has accumulated top-flight experience with 71 Ligue 1 appearances, scoring three goals and adding two assists. He also has minutes in the UEFA Champions League and domestic cups, as well as youth competitions including the UEFA Youth League, reflecting a career built across both senior and development levels.

A product of PSG’s academy, Pembele progressed through the club’s youth sides before making the step up to the first team in 2020. His time in Paris brought major honours, including a Ligue 1 title in 2022-23, the Coupe de France in 2020-21 and the Trophee des Champions in the same season.

Pembele, whose current market valuation stands at €1.8m, will wear the number 32 shirt at Le Havre. The deal confirms his long-term future in Normandy, tying the defender to the club until the summer of 2029.