Rennes name Europa League squad with Nagida surprise

Rennes have submitted their UEFA squad for the Europa League, keeping Alidu Seidu and Djaoui Cissé in the group despite uncertainty around their futures during the summer transfer window. The list also confirms that the club’s summer signings are available for the European campaign under coach Franck Haise.

The 25-player group will be used for Rennes’ league-phase opener against Sturm Graz on 16 September. Senegalese forward Boulaye Dia, the club’s latest arrival, is included alongside Mousa Al-Tamari, Arnaud Nordin, Eliezer Mayenda and Ligue 1’s leading scorer Estéban Lepaul. Adrien Thomasson, Bryan Reynolds, Charlie Cresswell and goalkeeper Nicolas Lemaître are also registered.

Mahamadou Nagida is the main apparent omission from the published list, but the Cameroon international will not miss Rennes’ European campaign. Born in 2005 and developed by the club since joining in 2023, the left-back meets UEFA’s conditions for the separate List B. His availability matters after he started against Paris Saint-Germain and made an energetic substitute appearance against Le Mans since the Ligue 1 season began.

Nagida can therefore be selected despite not appearing in the initial 25-player group. Seidu and Cissé, meanwhile, have secured places in the main European squad after remaining with Rennes beyond the transfer window.