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Adrien Thomasson is a Rouge et Noir player!

The 32-year-old midfielder has signed for Stade Rennais F.C. until 2029. The player, who has made over 400 professional appearances, is returning to a club where he has previously excelled.

Published on 28 May 2026

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Top assist provider in Ligue 1, captain of RC Lens (twice runners-up to PSG), and winner of the Coupe de France, Adrien Thomasson has just completed a three-year spell in the Pas-de-Calais. His time with the Sang et Or has only served to confirm just how influential this metronome can be within a team. His top-class performances are down to an exceptional ability to cover ground. “He’s a lad who’s always running; he never stops. He’s the one who’s impressed me the most since I turned professional. In terms of physical performance and all the tests, he always finished on his own. And he proves it every weekend because he covers around 13 kilometres in every match, and is able to do it all over again three days later. He’s a machine, and it would be a real joy if he could join us,” said his friend and future teammate Valentin Rongier, speaking at a press conference ahead of the trip to Marseille.

Long before he gained widespread recognition and won awards, it was in Savoie that the Bourg-Saint-Maurice native made his name. In winter, he practised alpine and freestyle skiing; when the snow had melted from the Alpine peaks, the young Adrien would spend his summers playing football with his friends. His obvious talent saw him leave his home town an hour and 45 minutes away to begin his training, first in Annecy and then at Évian Thonon Gaillard, where he made his first appearances in the McDonald’s Ligue 1 thanks to Pablo Correa. “Winter sports gave me a lot in terms of motor skills, endurance and cardio. In football, the gap I had in terms of impact compared to other young players, I closed by the age of 17.”

But Adrien needed time, consistency and intensity. His first move with Loïc Désiré saw him discover Brittany on loan in the National division with Vannes OC. This move allowed him to play a full season and establish himself in a new environment. He returned to Haute-Savoie and to Ligue 1 to continue his development. The 2014–15 season ended with a total of 24 matches, 2 goals, 7 assists, and a new status.

This was followed by another move across France to Brittany and three full seasons on the banks of the Loire. With Nantes’s Yellow and Greens, he was an undisputed first-team regular. The same was true at Strasbourg from 2018 onwards, where he continued to work with the current Rouge et Noir sporting director. Five seasons in Alsace and a League Cup win in 2019.

Under Franck Haise’s management, in 2023, the midfielder began his Lens adventure and made his Champions League debut. RCL were among the frontrunners and Adrien, spearheading the attack, proved himself to be one of the top-flight’s finest midfielders – a complete player, decisive when it mattered. Having successfully completed his mission in Lens, Adrien Thomasson, ever the man who thrives on a challenge, chose to return to Brittany for a third time to showcase all his qualities.

In a fitting twist of fate, Adrien Thomasson will face the club against whom he scored his first goal in Ligue 1 McDonald's, on 10 January 2015, whilst playing for ETG at the Parc des Sports d'Annecy.

Welcome to Rennes, Adrien!

Arnaud Pouille, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:

“Even before he arrived, Adrien was well known to a large part of the club. Among them were former teammates (Maxime Le Marchand, Valentin Rongier, Brice Samba, Przemysław Frankowski, Seko Fofana...), the entire coaching staff around Franck Haise from his years in the North, and Loïc, who was also at Vannes and Strasbourg. Beyond his status as the top assist provider last season, he is a real asset to the squad in every respect. I am certain that, with his personal qualities, he will settle in very well and be able to bring all his experience and talent to bear. It is a real pleasure to welcome back Adrien and his family here at Stade Rennais. ”

Loïc Désiré, Sporting Director:

“We wanted an additional midfielder with character who knows Ligue 1 well and has European Cup experience. He enjoys taking on challenges with ambitious clubs. He wants to help Stade Rennais reach the top of the table. I knew him at Vannes and Strasbourg; on a personal level, we know what he’s like. He ticked all the boxes in terms of what we’ve been building over the last few months. Aside from his running ability, he’s the best passer. Alongside the top scorer, it’s good to have players with impressive stats. His time as captain at Lens shows he has that maturity and leadership quality.”

Adrien Thomasson’s opening remarks:

“I saw this as a very ambitious project. Right from the first discussions I had with the management and the coach, everyone showed a genuine interest. For me, it was a logical choice; I wanted to take on a new challenge and I was immediately taken with the opportunity at Stade Rennais. I’ve kept quite a few ties in Brittany; during my time in Vannes, I really liked the region and was lucky enough to discover quite a few nice places. Joining an ambitious club and reuniting with people I know very well were two factors that weighed heavily in my decision.”