Brice Samba’s anticipated transfer to Rennais has come to an abrupt halt as Racing Club Lens have decided to cancel the €14m deal.
Both clubs had previously agreed on the terms for the sale of the Lens captain, with the goalkeeper set to sign a four-and-a-half-year contract that would have kept him at Stade Rennais until 2029.
However, Lens head coach Will Still confirmed that there is no longer any discussion regarding the move. “I learned during the holidays that Brice wanted to leave the club. It’s annoying, because he’s the captain of the club, a very good goalkeeper. Keeping a player who no longer wants to be there is not necessarily a good thing, so it’s not that complicated,” said Still.
With Samba’s departure now off the table, his tenure in Lens will continue, despite his desire for a move. The decision to cancel the transfer stems from Rennes’ communication policy, particularly after previous dealings with Lens, including the signing of former captain Seko Fofana. Today, Rennes face OGC Nice in their first Ligue 1 match of the year.
