Cresswell swaps Toulouse for Rennes in €28m deal

Rennes have completed the signing of former England Under-21 centre-back Charlie Cresswell, who has penned a five-year contract running until 2031. The French club confirmed the €28m move from Toulouse on Tuesday, with the 23-year-old admitting the lure of European football was central to his decision.

Reports had indicated the deal would be structured as an initial one-year loan with Rennes obliged to make the transfer permanent at the end of the 2026-27 season, though the club did not specify the terms of the agreement. Rennes finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season and will compete in the Europa League under Franck Haise.

A proven winner at Under-21 level

Cresswell came through Leeds United's youth system before heading to France, and he arrives in Brittany with an impressive pedigree. He helped England win back-to-back Under-21 European Championship titles in 2023 and 2025, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament at the latter edition.

Having joined Toulouse in 2024 off the back of a successful loan spell with Millwall, Cresswell made 66 appearances in all competitions, contributing to 18 clean sheets and scoring eight goals. From the start of the 2024-25 campaign onwards, only Cristian Casseres (5,698) and Guillaume Restes (5,687) played more minutes for the club than Cresswell (5,626).

His statistical dominance was clear among Ligue 1 defenders in 2025-26, ranking first for duels won (171), first for aerial duels won (130), first for headed shots (31) and second for opposition shots blocked (30).

"The prospect of playing in Europe was a great reason to make this move"

After seeking a new challenge, the centre-back is relishing the opportunity to ply his trade in the Europa League.

"There has been a lot of talk about my move to Rennes over the past few weeks. It's fantastic to have finally arrived here and seen this project come to fruition," he told the club's website. "I am truly very happy. I spent two wonderful years in Toulouse and I couldn't have asked for more there, but football moves in cycles, and the prospect of playing in Europe was a great reason to make this move."

"The club has an interesting project and, I feel, an excellent squad this year. I hope we will achieve great things."

What comes next

Rennes open their Ligue 1 campaign against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on August 23, before entering the Europa League in the league phase next month, giving Cresswell an immediate chance to test himself on both domestic and continental stages.