Al-Duhail agree €10m deal for Rennes’ Benjamin Bourigeaud | OneFootball

Qatari club Al-Duhail SC have agreed a €10m deal with Stade Rennais to sign talismanic midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud (30), according to a report from Le Parisien. The 30-year-old has been pushing for a move away from the Ligue 1 club and has certainly played his final game with Les Rouge et Noir last Sunday against Lyon. Bourigeaud scored his side’s opening goal and has alluded to his departure after the game. “In my head, decisions have been taken, but since there is no agreement… I am trying to enjoy the present as much as possible”, Bourigeaud said.

Bourigeaud’s exit from Rennes would signal the end of an era at the Roazhon Park. The Racing Club de Lens youth product joined Stade Rennais from his formative club seven years ago and went on to log 66 goals and as many assists in 311 games for the Bretons, with which he won the 2019 Coupe de France. Get French Football News understands that, despite Julien Stéphan’s willingness to retain Bourigeaud’s services, the versatile midfielder made his mind up about leaving Rennes weeks ago and that the club’s executives agreed to fulfill his wish, notably to honor Bourigeaud’s achievements with the club and also to lower its wage bill.

Stade Rennais will play BlueCo-owned Strasbourg this Sunday with Bourigeaud not expected to feature in Julien Stéphan’s matchday squad. Bourigeaud will reportedly link up with Christophe Galtier’s Al-Duhail next week and put pen to paper over a three-year contract.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval