Kader Meïté opts for Al-Hilal in €30 million move, enters Rennes’ top 10 sales | OneFootball

Kader Meïté, 18, is set to join Al-Hilal after Rennes agreed a deal, so he will miss Saturday’s Ligue 1 match at Monaco. He has made 29 Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes.

According to L'Équipe, agreement was reached on Thursday for the France Under-21 forward to join the Saudi Pro League leaders coached by Simone Inzaghi.

The fee is €30 million plus three million euros in bonuses and a sell-on, after an initial €23 million plus three million euros offer was rejected. Manchester United showed serious interest, but, unless Joshua Zirkzee left, they planned to act in the summer.

Al-Hilal’s interest emerged early in the window, with the Saudi league targeting leading young European talent. Rennes intended to keep Meïté and offer a two-year extension to a deal running to 2028, but the striker was attracted by the move.

The transfer enters Rennes’ top 10 sales, alongside academy products Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Eduardo Camavinga and Lesley Ugochukwu. Meïté chose Rennes for his development and impressed under Habib Beye at 17 before lifting the Coupe Gambardella.

Since the summer he has been third-choice centre forward, with three goals and two assists, behind Estéban Lepaul and Breel Embolo. He now leaves for a new environment on a contract to 2029.

Rennes aim to recruit a striker by Monday. Talks are said to be ongoing with Chelsea over centre-back Jérémy Jacquet after a €50 million bid was rejected, and the Blues could push to conclude before Monday, which would require an increased offer.

Source: L'Équipe