'Your big man': Eliezer Mayenda issues emotional farewell to Sunderland fans with Stade Rennais move imminent | OneFootball

Eliezer Mayenda has bid an emotional farewell to Sunderland supporters as a move to Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais nears.

According to Sunderland Echo, a deal worth around £22 million has been agreed and the striker completed a medical in France on Saturday. The transfer is yet to be confirmed by either club but is considered a formality.

Mayenda arrived from Sochaux and had to wait for his debut after a hamstring injury in his first training session. A loan to Hibernian followed in January, with limited minutes, before he seized his chance under Régis Le Bris the following summer.

He became central to Sunderland’s promotion, scoring in the first leg of the play-off semi-final at Coventry City, then equalising at Wembley against Sheffield United.

Though regular minutes were hard to find this season, he still made his mark by 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 his message, the 21-year-old thanked fans for believing in him from day one and standing by him each season. He expressed gratitude to chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, team-mates and staff, and said Sunderland will always be part of him, embracing the “Big Man” nickname.

The move to Stade Rennais is expected to be confirmed in the coming days. Mayenda leaves with 12 goals in 73 competitive appearances.

Source: Sunderland Echo