Right up until the very end, Bryan Reynolds (25) probably hoped to secure his place at the World Cup on home soil. But in a particularly competitive position, with Alex Freeman (Villarreal CF), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven) and Timothy Weah (Olympique de Marseille) all vying for the spot, the right-back ultimately swapped the prospect of international football for a move to a Big 5 club.
Having come through the ranks at FC Dallas, the American began his career as a striker – which explains his clear attacking abilities – before being moved to the right-back position. His performances in the MLS caught the eye, and in 2021 it was AS Roma who secured his signature. Adapting to Italian football proved difficult. Bryan Reynolds had to come to terms with the significant differences between MLS and Serie A, and after a total of eight matches with the Giallorossi, the lanky 1-metre-90 player headed to Belgium to gain more experience.
Jupiler to get you off the ground
Reynolds played successively for Kortrijk and then Westerlo, where he signed a long-term contract in 2023. The Jupiler League discovered a player who was particularly quick and lively, determined to exploit the space down his flank. A regular for the USA U23s, he notably faced a French side featuring Désiré Doué, Adrien Truffert and Arnaud Kalimuendo at the Stade Bonal in March 2024. The defender also enjoyed the thrill of representing the senior national team (7 caps).
A formidable threat going forward, with his crossing ability a key asset, the Texan has established himself as one of the standout players in the Belgian league. Having enjoyed a successful final season, notably providing three assists in the 10 play-off matches, Bryan Reynolds is ready to return to the Big 5. Here he is in Red and Black. Welcome, Bryan!
Arnaud Pouille, Executive Chairman – Chief Executive:
“Bryan is exactly the sort of player we needed, and one our recruitment teams have been tracking for a long time. He’s a player who’s developing rapidly, he’s strong, and he’ll bring a breath of fresh air to the dressing room. The whole club is delighted to welcome him. It’s now up to him to demonstrate all his qualities to the Rennes fans. ”
Loïc Désiré, Sporting Director:
“Bryan is a player I’ve known for a long time; we’ve been watching him in the MLS. We follow the Belgian league closely, and Alexandre (Pasquini, Head of Recruitment) has been working on this deal since the start of the season. Bryan is exactly the type of player we were looking for; he’s made his mark in Belgium after a difficult spell at Roma. He’s already a mature player despite his young age, and he’ll bring all his qualities to the Rouge et Noir dressing room.”
Bryan Reynolds’ opening remarks:
“Rennes was described to me as a top club in the French league. It’s a big step up and I was hoping the deal would be finalised quickly. I was really keen to get here; it makes sense to take on a challenge like this with the Europa League. It’s amazing to play for this sort of club, which plays every match to win, driven by the aim of taking all three points. The club wouldn’t have signed me if they didn’t think I was capable of playing at this level. I have to prove that I’m ready – for the manager, my team-mates and the club.”
Bryan Reynolds
Born on 28 June 2001 (aged 25) in Fort Worth, Texas (United States)
Defender
Right-footed
Trained at FC Dallas Academy (United States)
Professional career:
2016–2021 – FC Dallas (MLS, USA): 31 appearances, 6 assists March 2019 > November 2019 – North Texas SC (MLS Next Pro, USA): 12 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists
February 2021 > June 2021: AS Roma (Serie A, Italy, on loan): 5 matches
2021 > 2023: AS Roma (Serie A, Italy): 3 matches
January 2022 > June 2022: KV Kortrijk (Jupiler Pro League, Belgium, on loan): 9 matches, 1 goal
2022–2023: KVC Westerlo (Jupiler Pro League, Belgium, on loan): 34 matches, 1 goal, 5 assists
2023: KVC Westerlo (Jupiler Pro League, Belgium): 112 matches, 4 goals, 12 assists
United States: 7 caps, 1 goal
United States U23: 7 caps
Honours:
USL League One in 2019, with North Texas SC UEFA Conference League in 2022, with AS Roma
