One to Watch: Kazeem Olaigbe following in the footsteps of Jérémy Doku at Rennes?

While Kader Meïté has drawn plenty of attention as Stade Rennais' latest breakout star, another name is quietly rising through the ranks under Habib Beye: Kazeem Olaigbe. Signed on the final day of the winter window from Cercle Bruges for €5.25 million, the 22-year-old Belgian is now earning his stripes in a reshaped attacking setup that mirrors the energy and directness Beye has brought to the club since taking charge.

A profile Rennes were previously missing

Olaigbe’s arrival in early February went somewhat under the radar amidst a flurry of late deals. Not yet a nailed-on starter in Belgium, the U21 international for the Red Devils has nonetheless shown enough glimpses. It was especially his explosiveness in one-on-one situations which prompted Rennes sporting director Frédéric Massara to make a move.

His profile is one of an agile, vertical winger who thrives in one-on-one situations. It's a unique outlier in a Rennes squad otherwise stacked with playmakers and link-up forwards. It’s no surprise then that Beye, looking to inject directness into Rennes’ transition play, turned to Olaigbe as soon as he was eligible.

He debuted at Saint-Étienne on February 8th and played a key role in the second goal of a 2–0 win, bursting through the lines to set up the attack. Though quieter cameos followed against Lille and Reims, Beye stuck with him, integrating him gradually into his pace-and-power-driven 4-3-3 system.

Beye’s influence: Direct transitions and exploiting space

Habib Beye has sought to shift Rennes away from sterile possession towards a more dynamic transitional game, favouring verticality and early forward movement. In this context, Olaigbe’s ability to carry the ball at speed, beat his man and attack space fits perfectly.

This was particularly evident in the 3–0 win at Angers on March 30th, where Olaigbe not only impressed with his willingness to take on defenders, but also registered an assist for Arnaud Kalimuendo’s opener—a move straight out of Beye’s direct attacking playbook. Against Auxerre a week later, he kept his place in the starting XI.

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Olaigbe’s move to Rennes was partly inspired by his compatriot Jérémy Doku, who lit up Roazhon Park before earning a Premier League move. The former Southampton academy graduate (with loan spells in Scotland and England’s lower tiers) is used to adapting to new environments. “It’s normal not to play immediately,” Olaigbe said recently to L'Équipe. “I needed to adapt, but I’ve enjoyed my first weeks here.”

Beye’s man-management has helped. The former Red Star FC boss is known for clear tactical instructions and empowering young players, having overseen Meïté’s sudden rise and revitalised Kalimuendo’s form. With Ludovic Blas still out injured, Olaigbe could be set for some more gametime as the Breton side hope to push for the top half of the table. 

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