Kazeem Olaigbe: Rennes close to signing ex-Southampton lad caught between Nigeria & Belgium
French club Rennes are closing in on the signing of Cercle Brugge winger Kazeem Olaigbe, with talks at an advanced stage, Soccernet.ng understands.
According to En FranƧais via Le Footenbref, Ligue 1 campaigners Rennes are reportedly nearing a full agreement with both the Belgian club and the Nigeria-Belgium player.
Get Our Sports News First ā Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
The 22-year-old has been in fine form this season, registering eight goals and one assist in 31 appearances across the Belgian Pro League and the UEFA Conference League.
Cercle Brugge v OH Leuven ā Jupiler Pro League BRUGGE, BELGIUM ā DECEMBER 22 : Kazeem Olaigbe forward of Cercle Brugge celebrates scoring a penalty with Feldhofer Ferdinand head coach of Cercle Brugge and De Wulf Jimmy assistant coach of Cercle Brugge during the Jupiler Pro League match between Cercle Brugge and OH Leuven. Photo by IMAGO
A product of Southamptonās youth academy, Kazeem Olaigbe is currently under contract with Cercle Brugge until 2027, but Rennes are keen to bring him to France to bolster their attacking options.
Olaigbeās potential arrival comes as Rennes look to fill the void left by two key departures.
Portuguese winger Jota has returned to Celtic FC, while Algerian international Amine Gouiri completed a ā¬22 million move to Marseille on Friday.
KAA Gent v Cercle Brugge ā Jupiler Pro League GENT, BELGIUM ā DECEMBER 15 : Kazeem Olaigbe forward of Cercle Brugge during the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Cercle Brugge. Photo by IMAGO
With manager Julien StƩphan aiming to strengthen the squad for the second half of the season, the club has been highly active in the winter transfer market.
So far, Rennes have secured several notable signings, including Al-Nassr midfielder Seko Fofana, Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba, Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, and Brest centre-back Lilian Brassier.
The addition of Kazeem Olaigbe would further enhance their squad depth as they push for a strong finish in Ligue 1.
Olimpija v Cercle Brugge ā UEFA Conference League LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA ā DECEMBER 12 : Kazeem Olaigbe forward of Cercle Brugge celebrating the victory towards the supporters after the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD5. Photo by IMAGO
Born in Belgium to Nigerian parents, Olaigbe started his footballing journey at Anderlecht before moving to Southampton in 2019.
After signing a contract extension with the Saints in February 2022, he was loaned out to Scottish side Ross County for the 2022ā23 season, where he made his professional debut.
He later spent the second half of that campaign on loan at Harrogate Town in Englandās League Two before securing a permanent move to Cercle Brugge in August 2023.
His rapid development and performances in Belgium have put him on the radar of several European clubs, with Rennes now leading the race for his signature.
Rennes will return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday when they host Strasbourg, with club officials hopeful that Olaigbeās signing can be wrapped up in the coming days.
Olaigbeās international future is also far from being decided. Despite representing Belgium at youth level from U15 to U21, Olaigbe remains eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeriaās Super Eagles.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
