Mikayil Faye is on the verge of joining Stade Rennais from Barcelona, with the Ligue 1 outfit securing an agreement to sign the 20-year-old defender.
According to an update by reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Mikayil Faye will leave FC Barcelona without playing a game for the first team. The 20-year-old will join Stade Rennais on a permanent deal after the Ligue 1 outfit secured the agreement to sign him from Barcelona in a deal worth €12 million. The Blaugrana will retain a 25 per cent sell-on clause and a buyback option worth €35 million.
Mikayil Faye and his Barcelona woes
Mikayil Faye had much hype around him when he joined Barcelona from NK Kustosija in 2023. The Blaugrana beat stiff competit35 tmion to land the African defender, with Premier League bigwigs also interested in signing him in last summer’s transfer window.
Barcelona assigned Faye to the reserve side after he arrived from NK Kustosija. The 20-year-old turned out 35 times for Barcelona Atletic while chipping in with four goals. However, the young centre-back could not break into the first-team squad, with his opportunities with the senior side coming during the pre-season campaign.
Meanwhile, Mikayil Faye’s stock in the market has been high throughout the summer transfer window, even though he has not made his first-team bow for Barcelona. Widespread reports have linked the Senegalese international with high-profile clubs like Arsenal and FC Porto.
What next for Faye?
Recent reports have also linked Mikayil Faye with a move within La Liga, with Real Sociedad showing interest in him. However, the youngster’s next destination will be Ligue 1, with Stade Rennais securing an agreement to secure his services on a permanent deal before the summer transfer window shuts down.
Rennes will cough up around €12 million to secure Mikayil Faye’s services, with the 20-year-old likely to undergo his medical tests on Friday. Meanwhile, Barcelona will retain a 25 per cent sell-on clause in the deal, meaning they can recoup some money if Rennes sell him in the future.
In addition, Barcelona will have a buyback clause worth over €35 million. So, after intensifying the efforts to sign Faye last week, Stade Rennais will secure his services in a deal worth €12 million. Faye’s Barcelona career is thus ending without playing a first-team game.
