Stade Rennes have reacted to their weak first half of the season by spending big on their first winter transfer: Seko Fofana (29) is apparently worth around 20 million euros to the Ligue 1 twelfth.
The first 15 Ligue 1 games were a disappointment from Stade Rennes’ point of view. The club, with its great talent pool, only managed 17 points and at the turn of the year is only in twelfth place – just five points above the first relegation place.
In France, it had been expected that Rennes would want to strengthen its squad. And on New Year’s Day, coach Jorge Sampaoli’s club landed a big fish: Seko Fofana is returning to France after a year and a half in Saudi Arabia.
According to Le Parisien, Rennes are paying around €20 million to his former club Al-Nassr to pry Fofana away from the desert state. In the summer of 2023, the midfield dynamo had been signed for a reported €23 million after a strong season with RC Lens – alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, dissatisfaction with Fofana’s performances led Al-Nassr to transfer the now 29-year-old to Steven Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq in January 2024. So now he is returning to Ligue 1, with Fofana signing a four-and-a-half-year contract in Rennes until June 30, 2029.
Fofana: Rennes not where it belongs
In an initial statement, Fofana expressed his “great happiness” at the signing and the “new challenge” that awaits him. He has been “closely following” Rennes, he said, adding that the club is certainly not where it belongs, which is why a turnaround is needed as quickly as possible. Ideally as early as this Friday (9 p.m.) in the away game at Nice.
The 22-time Ivorian international (seven goals), who won the Africa Cup in 2024, is looking forward to “a great personality and great mentality” as a sporting director, Frederic Massara. The club has “great confidence” in Fofana’s qualities.
