Rennes open 2026-27 preparations with four arrivals, more expected | OneFootball

Rennes begin pre-season today with four new signings already secured, further recruits expected and several departures to resolve.

According to L'Équipe, the squad reconvenes eight weeks before an opening Ligue 1 trip to PSG on the weekend of 22 August, after a six-week break. The programme is local apart from a 15 August friendly at Sunderland, and Rennes, sixth last season, will play the Europa League league phase.

World Cup players Brice Samba, Breel Embolo, Seko Fofana, Alidu Seidu and Mousa al-Tamari will be absent. Present are Adrien Thomasson (32, free from Lens), Issa Soumaré (25, free from Le Havre), left-footed centre-back Gonçalo Oliveira (19, 3.5m euros from Benfica) and new number two goalkeeper Nicolas Lemaître (29, from Troyes).

Rennes are targeting more wide threat, character and depth. Right-back Bryan Reynolds (25, under contract to 2027 at Westerlo) appears well placed to compete with Przemyslaw Frankowski in a move around 4m euros, while on the left Quentin Merlin is joined by Mahamadou Nagida (21, 2029), who hopes to assert himself.

Uncertainty surrounds Fofana (31, 2029) and Ludovic Blas (28, one year left), though Franck Haise would count on both. Porto could yet return for Fofana after his successful loan, Blas could see out his deal, and unless a goalkeeper merry-go-round unfolds, Samba will remain at Rennes.

Up front, the window will determine whether Embolo (29, 2029) prioritises Rennes or other options, as he is not first choice in a 4-3-3. Sunderland’s Franco-Spanish forward Eliezer Mayenda (21, 2030) remains a target, with talks ongoing over a deal that could reach about 25m euros if the club opens the door, and Haise’s own situation could also be discussed after his 18 February appointment, with a contract to 2027.

Source: L'Équipe