RENNES: Ivorian international Seko Fofana has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Rennes, the Ligue 1 club announced on Wednesday, after 18 months playing in Saudi Arabia.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who has 22 caps for the Ivory Coast, arrives on a deal estimated to be worth 20 million euros ($20.8 million).

The former RC Lens captain joined Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the summer of 2023, after helping the French club return to the Champions League for the first time in 21 years.

But Fofana never really found his place on the pitch in the Middle East, whether at Al Nassr or during a loan spell at Al Ettifaq.

Rennes are struggling in 12th place in Ligue 1 — just four points above the relegation zone — and moved for Fofana who had worked with the Brittany club’s executive president Arnaud Pouille at Lens.

“There are talented players at Rennes and I think that the club is not in its rightful place,” said Fofana.

“It’s a team that I have often played against, it counts in this championship. I can’t wait to start.”

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2025