Eliezer Mayenda says goodbye to Sunderland with Rennes switch close | OneFootball

Eliezer Mayenda has posted an emotional goodbye to Sunderland supporters as a transfer to Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais moves closer. According to Sunderland Echo, he underwent a medical in France on Saturday after the clubs agreed a fee in the region of £22 million. The move has not yet been confirmed by either club, is viewed as a formality and is expected in the coming days.

The striker joined from Sochaux three years ago and suffered a hamstring injury in his first training session, delaying his debut.

He left for Hibernian on loan in the January window, played little, then seized his chance under Régis Le Bris the following summer. He became central to Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League, scoring in the play-off semi-final first leg at Coventry City and at Wembley to level against Sheffield United.

This season he struggled for regular minutes but still produced a standout moment, scoring the club’s first goal of the campaign in a 3-0 win over West Ham United on the opening day at the Stadium of Light.

In a farewell message, the 21-year-old thanked chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, his team-mates and staff, and praised supporters for believing in him from day one and standing by him season after season. He said Sunderland will always be part of him and embraced the Big Man nickname bestowed by fans.

Mayenda has recorded 12 goals in 73 competitive appearances for the Black Cats.

Source: Sunderland Echo