Who is Eliezer Mayenda? Rennes land one of Europe's most exciting young forwards
Stade Rennais have continued their summer rebuild by completing the signing of Eliezer Mayenda from Sunderland on a long-term contract until 2031.
The 21-year-old forward returns to France three years after leaving FC Sochaux for England, having established himself as one of Sunderland's brightest young talents. Rennes have reportedly paid around €20 million, demonstrating a belief that Mayenda can become one of Ligue 1's standout attacking players in the near future.
Still only 21, he already boasts experience in Ligue 2, the Championship, the Premier League, Scottish football and the Spanish Under-21 national team, bringing an unusually varied résumé for a player of his age.
A record-breaker at Sochaux
Born in Zaragoza to Congolese and Togolese parents, Mayenda developed through the youth systems of Ebro, Breuillet FC and CS Brétigny before joining FC Sochaux.
He announced himself early. In December 2021, aged just 16 years and seven months, he became the youngest player ever to represent Sochaux's first team in an official match when he made his professional debut in the Coupe de France.
Only weeks later, he signed the youngest professional contract in the club's history, quickly establishing himself as one of French football's most highly-rated attacking prospects. Those performances convinced Sunderland to invest in the teenager during the summer of 2023.
Making his name at Sunderland
Although his adaptation to English football took time, Mayenda steadily developed into a key player on Wearside.
After a brief loan spell with Hibernian in Scotland, he returned to Sunderland and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2024-25. His first senior goals for the club came in a 4-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday before he produced the defining moments of Sunderland's promotion season.
Mayenda scored Sunderland's equaliser in the Championship play-off final at Wembley before the Black Cats completed a dramatic comeback to seal their return to the Premier League.
He carried that momentum into England's top flight by scoring Sunderland's first Premier League goal of the season on the opening weekend against West Ham United.
Across his time with the club, he made more than 70 appearances while registering 12 goals and six assists, earning the affection of supporters, who nicknamed him "The Big Man".
Pace, movement and versatility
Standing at 1.80m, Mayenda is capable of playing across the front line. Comfortable as a central striker or operating from wider positions, he combines explosive pace with intelligent movement in behind opposing defences. Direct in one-versus-one situations and eager to attack space, he offers the kind of vertical threat that has become increasingly valuable in modern football.
His versatility also appealed to Rennes sporting director Loïc Désiré.
"Eliezer has the ability to play out wide as well as in central positions. He is a young player but has already played in several leagues and in different countries. We are aware of his potential."
Ready for Ligue 1 Mcdonald's
For Mayenda, returning to France represents another important step in his development.
"I'm very happy to join Stade Rennais, a great club that we often spoke about when I was at Sochaux," he said after signing.
"I'd describe myself as a complete striker who likes to run in behind, dribble and take players on. I can't wait to play at Roazhon Park, meet my new teammates and discover Ligue 1, which I think is an underrated league."
Already a regular with Spain's Under-21 side, Mayenda now has the opportunity to establish himself among Ligue 1's most exciting young forwards.
If his rapid rise through France, England and international football is anything to go by, Rennes may have secured another star for both the present and the future.
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