Valentin Rongier made his first professional appearance in 2014 for his former club Nantes. After starting against Reims in Ligue 1, he went from strength to strength in midfield. The FCN relied on a home-grown lad, who quickly became a first-team regular and then the captain of the La Beaujoire outfit.
37 times captain with OM
Olympique de Marseille, under André Villas-Boas, made him a target of choice to fill the void left by the departure of Luiz Gustavo; in the summer of 2019, the native of Mâcon became an Olympian. Precise and tireless, he has made his mark under successive coaches, from Jorge Sampaoli to Igor Tudor. The midfielder was voted into the 2023 squad after an outstanding season, and features in the league's Team of the Year alongside Brice Samba and Seko Fofana, among others. Last season, Roberto De Zerbi regularly praised his qualities. Nicknamed “the geometer” by the Italian coach because ‘he brings order to the pitch’, Valentin Rongier was quite simply the best player in Europe's Big 5 in terms of interceptions in January (an average of ten per game). Close to 200 appearances for OM, where he once wore the captain's armband, the experienced left-back has set himself a new challenge in a league he knows inside out. Here he is, in red and black, committed until 2028. Degemer mat Valentin.
Arnaud Pouille, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stade Rennais F.C. :
« Valentin is an important addition for the club. He's a player who needs no introduction, having established himself as a leader on Ligue 1 pitches over the last decade. We're delighted he's joining us, and we can't wait for him to showcase his qualities in a Stade Rennais F.C. shirt. »
Loïc Désiré, Sporting Director of Stade Rennais F.C. :
« Valentin fits perfectly with the profile we were looking for in a midfield role, he ticks all our boxes.
The opportunity presented itself and we seized it. He's an important addition to the team, a real leader who will fit in with the style of play advocated by Habib and his staff. His experience and character will be invaluable assets in supporting our young players. »
Valentin Rongier
30 years old
7 December 1994
30 years old
Midfielder
1m73
Right-handed
Trained at FC Nantes
Professional career:
FC Nantes, 135 matches
Olympique de Marseille, 196 matches
Honours and awards:
Best tackler in Europe's top 5, 2016-2017
Member of the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2022-2023 season at the UNFP trophies
Runner-up in the French championship with Olympique de Marseille in 2020, 2022 and 2025
