Stade Rennais have added young attacker Eliezer Mayenda and right-back Bryan Reynolds to their squad, as confirmed by L’Équipe during a training session disrupted by inclement weather on Wednesday. The pair joined the club alongside Adrien Thomasson, Gonçalo Oliveira, Issa Soumaré, and Nicolas Lemaître as recent acquisitions for manager Franck Haise.
Mayenda, a Spanish youth international, arrives from Sochaux and Sunderland, while Reynolds joins from Westerlo. Both players are expected to feature in Rennes’ upcoming friendly against Guingamp on Friday, though Lemaître is still being eased back into training. Haise indicated that several players will receive increased playing time in the match, though none will exceed 60 minutes.
The influx of new players comes as Rennes look to reshape their squad ahead of the new Ligue 1 season and their Europa League campaign. Haise acknowledged the need to trim the current roster of 35 field players down to a more manageable 23-24. Midfielder Jordan James, who was not used in a recent friendly against Caen due to his potential departure, is unlikely to feature against Guingamp.
Haise also stated the club is still seeking to add a central defender, with a move for Charlie Cresswell of Toulouse currently stalled. The manager emphasized the importance of improving defensive transitions and precision in build-up play, integrating the new signings into a cohesive tactical approach. Several other players, including Seko Fofana and Mousa Al-Tamari, are expected to return to the squad next week following international commitments.
The club is also considering the futures of several existing players, including Fofana, Ludovic Blas, Lilian Brassier, and Breel Embolo, while also evaluating options for their young prospects. Rennes will face a challenging start to the Ligue 1 season with an away match against Paris Saint-Germain on August 23rd.
