Stade Rennais are poised to sign Eliezer Mayenda from Sunderland in a deal worth between €20 and €25 million, including potential bonuses, according to L’Équipe. The 21-year-old forward is expected to complete his move in the coming days, returning to France after a period in English football.
Mayenda was a target for several clubs across Europe, including teams in Spain’s La Liga – with Real Betis reportedly submitting an offer – and Germany’s Bundesliga. Paris FC also renewed their interest after previously pursuing him last summer, while other French teams were monitoring his situation. However, it is the Brittany-based club that has successfully secured the signature of the Spain Under-21 international.
Born in Zaragoza, Spain, to a Congolese father and Togolese mother, Mayenda’s footballing journey has been marked by frequent moves. He relocated to the Paris region around the age of ten before joining the Sochaux academy in 2019. He quickly progressed, becoming the youngest player to sign a professional contract with the club at 16 years and 8 months old, surpassing the previous record held by Jérémy Ménez. He made 15 appearances in Ligue 2 during the 2022-2023 season before moving to Sunderland.
Mayenda spent six months with Sunderland in the English Championship, followed by a loan spell at Hibernian in Scotland, where he featured in four matches. Despite limited playing time under Régis Le Bris at Sunderland last season, making eight league starts, he had previously impressed during the club’s promotion campaign from League One. He scored 10 goals in the second tier, including crucial strikes in both legs of the play-off semi-final and final, with one goal a memorable solo effort against Bristol City.
Mayenda has also represented Spain at youth levels, earning nine caps and scoring twice for the Under-21 team. He has even trained with the Spanish senior national team, the current European champions. While France initially showed interest in the player when he was 16, he ultimately chose to represent his country of birth after receiving a call-up from Julen Guerrero, a former Athletic Bilbao star. Guerrero highlighted Mayenda’s power, speed, and versatility as key attributes, noting his ability to play across the front line and offer a different dynamic to possession-based Spanish football. Rennes will now look to benefit from those qualities in Ligue 1.
