on 26 May 2016. Denayer provided the assist for the only goal of the game on 30 minutes; a flick on from Emre Colak's corner on to Lukas Podolski who headed in from close range. Loan to Sunderland On 31 August 2016, Denayer joined Premier League side Sunderland on a season-long loan deal. However, Sunderland were poor and ended up being relegated. Denayer struggled to perform consistently and was often fielded in midfield instead of his natural position as a defender. He was also hindered by a series of niggling injuries towards the end of the season. Second loan to Galatasaray On 31 August 2017, Denayer re-signed for Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal. In a 2–0 win over Osmanlıspor on 28 January 2018, Denayer completed 60 successful passes, overtaking the previous pass completion record in Süper Lig set by Atiba Hutchinson of Beşiktaş in season 2014–15. He played 22 games during his second spell at the club to help Galatasaray win the 2017–18 Süper Lig. Lyon On 21 August 2018, Denayer joined Ligue 1 club Lyon for €6.5m, signing a four-year contract. Denayer was a regular for the team, having 31 starts in the 2018–19 season and scoring two goals. He faced his former employers, Manchester City, in the Champions League quarter-finals on 15 August 2020, as Lyon won 3–1. Shabab Al Ahli After his contract with Lyon expired on July 1, Denayer was a free agent. He was signed by Emirati club Shabab Al Ahli in late September 2022. International career From 2013 on, Denayer represented Belgium at different levels, such as Belgium U19 and Belgium U21. On 2 October 2014, national team manager Marc Wilmots called him for the first time to the Belgium national team for their Euro 2016 qualification match against Andorra. Denayer was included in further international squads for Euro qualifier matches against Bosnia and Wales and for a friendly against Iceland. However, he was an unused substitute in each of these four games. Denayer made his senior international debut for Belgium on 31 March 2015 in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier away to Israel at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. He replaced Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke in the 67th minute of a 1–0 win which put Belgium at the top of the group. Denayer made his first start for the senior side on 7 June 2015, in a friendly match against France