Sunderland agree deal to sell Eliezer Mayenda as Stade Rennais close in on £22m move | OneFootball

Sunderland have agreed a deal to sell Eliezer Mayenda to Stade Rennais and, while not yet signed, the move is now expected to be completed. It is a reluctant sale that nevertheless appears to suit club, player and buyer.

According to Sunderland Echo, the package is worth about £22 million including add-ons, with Sochaux due a significant sell-on. Signed for just under €1 million in 2023, Mayenda will deliver a sizeable profit and strengthen Sunderland’s SCR position across this window and the next.

Mayenda’s 2025/26 campaign did not unfold as hoped after he headed Sunderland in front against West Ham United on opening day, yet the 21-year-old remains highly regarded. He is popular with staff, team-mates and supporters, and talks over his likely exit have been conducted respectfully.

The striker had begun to consider options as Brian Brobbey’s rise limited his starts, while Wilson Isidor finished strongly to move ahead in Régis Le Bris’s plans. Rennes offer an ambitious project, Europa League football and a push towards the Champions League. They have tied top scorer Esteban Lepaul to improved terms and Franck Haise is expected to follow, a coach who often uses two forwards. There are no guarantees, but Mayenda is set to arrive as a senior option with expectations to perform.

Sunderland weighed a loan given his potential, but a strong offer and an unchanged squad status made a sale more palatable. The deal reflects the club’s model, allowing reinvestment under SCR and UEFA rules while giving the player a platform to kick on.

Source: Sunderland Echo