Boulaye Dia agrees with Stade Rennais on a Ligue 1 return move

Boulaye Dia has agreed to join Stade Rennais, bringing the French club closer to a move for the Senegal international. The agreement is currently between Rennes and the 29-year-old centre-forward, while negotiations with his club, SS Lazio, remain unresolved. Rennes must still agree the transfer fee and the structure of the operation before Dia can return to Ligue 1.

The discussions have accelerated during the final stretch of the transfer window. Rennes intensified its efforts after identifying Dia as an experienced attacking option, and the player has responded positively to the club’s project. His decision gives the Breton side an important advantage, but it does not amount to a completed transfer. Lazio still have to approve the financial terms before the move can proceed.

Rennes entered the talks while reshaping Franck Haise’s squad. The club drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain and was preparing for its second match against Le Mans when the Dia negotiations moved forward. The immediate need is clear after Breel Embolo left for Atlanta United in a deal worth €17 million, with a further €1 million potentially available in bonuses. Jordan James has also joined Wolverhampton on loan, part of a wider effort to adjust the squad.

Embolo’s departure has increased the importance of finding another forward alongside Esteban Lepaul. Rennes has therefore turned to a player with previous Ligue 1 experience rather than an attacker requiring an adaptation period to French football. Dia is familiar with the competition from his time at Stade de Reims, where he established himself as a significant attacking presence before moving abroad.

Dia’s Ligue 1 record stands at 24 goals in 78 appearances. He left France five years ago and subsequently built his career through Spain and Italy. Villarreal transferred him to Salernitana for €14.40 million in the 2023/24 season, after which his performances led to a move to Lazio. The Italian club completed the transfer from Salernitana for €11.30 million in the 2026/27 season, according to the club record.

At Lazio, Dia has registered 14 goals and five assists in 79 appearances. The database lists him as a current Lazio player with a market value of €5 million. His Lazio spell has lasted three seasons in the reports surrounding the Rennes talks, but he has not become an undisputed first-choice forward in Rome. A return to France would offer him a new setting while allowing Rennes to add a player who already understands the demands of Ligue 1.

Dia also brings international experience to the proposed move. He holds Senegalese and French citizenship and has won 39 caps for Senegal, scoring six goals. His Senegal career adds another layer of experience to a Rennes attack that is being rebuilt after Embolo’s exit. The database also records two ankle injuries, a factor Rennes would need to consider during its assessment of the player’s availability and physical condition.

The next step is entirely at club level. Rennes has obtained Dia’s agreement but must narrow the gap with Lazio over the amount and payment terms. The discussions are continuing as the transfer deadline approaches, with the Breton club seeking a formula that satisfies the Italian side. Until that agreement is reached, Dia remains a Lazio player and the proposed Ligue 1 return remains unfinished.