Rennes - injuries & suspensions October 2026

Rennes finished last season in sixth place in Ligue 1, improving on their 12th-place finish the previous campaign. This time, they secured a place in the Europa League, but the squad has once again undergone significant changes over the summer. The biggest departure was Jérémy Jacquet's move to Liverpool. The team is managed by Franck Haise, for whom this is his first full season in charge of Rennes.

Haise tasked with building a stable team

Franck Haise took charge of Rennes in February 2026 and signed a contract until 2027. He previously worked at Nice, but in Ligue 1 he is best known as the manager of Lens. He now faces his first season working with the team from the outset. Last season, Rennes were capable of playing at a high level, but did not always sustain it from one match to the next.

After the season, sporting director Loïc Désiré highlighted the team's lack of experience and its struggles in difficult moments. The squad has changed again over the summer, so Haise must shape the team from scratch. On top of that, the Europa League means more matches and less time on the training ground.

Jacquet's departure and a defensive rebuild

Jérémy Jacquet's move to Liverpool is one of the biggest changes to the Rennes squad. The young centre-back is regarded as a major talent and performed well both in physical duels and when playing the ball out from the back. The club made money from his transfer, but must now find a new leader at the heart of defence. Lilian Brassier has also joined Eintracht Frankfurt, making the need to strengthen this position even greater.

Rennes have signed Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse and Gonçalo Oliveira from Benfica. Both will compete for a place in defence. Bryan Reynolds, signed from Westerlo, has arrived on the right. There has also been a change in goal, with Nicolas Lemaître joining from Troyes to compete with Brice Samba.

New options in attack

Rennes had to find a replacement for Breel Embolo, who joined Atlanta United after one season. The Swiss forward scored eight goals and provided three assists in Ligue 1. One of the players brought in to fill the gap in attack is Boulaye Dia, who has joined on loan from Lazio with an option to buy. The 29-year-old Senegalese has played in Ligue 1 before, scoring goals for Reims.

Rennes have also signed Eliezer Mayenda from Sunderland. The 21-year-old has played in England, but still needs regular game time and more experience at the highest level. The club sees him primarily as a winger, while Dia and Estéban Lepaul will compete for a place at centre-forward. Issa Soumaré has also joined from Le Havre, having scored eight goals and registered five assists in Ligue 1 last season. Arnaud Nordin, previously on loan from Mainz, has also stayed at Rennes. Franck Haise therefore has several attacking options at his disposal.

Changes in midfield

Rennes have also strengthened their midfield. Adrien Thomasson has joined from Lens, bringing Ligue 1 experience. With Albert Grønbæk moving to Hamburger SV and Seko Fofana joining Porto on loan, new solutions were needed in midfield. Sebastian Szymański, Valentin Rongier, Mahdi Camara and Ludovic Blas remain in the squad. Each can fulfil a different role, from winning the ball back to dictating play and looking for passes in attack. Haise therefore has several options for setting up his midfield, but will need to find a system that does not leave the team vulnerable when possession is lost.

Goals for the new season

Sixth place has returned Rennes to European competition, but the club has once again had to rebuild. Jacquet's sale brought in money, but also left a gap in defence. New players have arrived in attack, while the midfield has also undergone changes. Rennes want to remain in the upper reaches of the table and perform well in the Europa League. To achieve those goals, the team must become more consistent, and Haise needs to settle on a first-choice line-up quickly.