Rayan BAMBA

Born in the Paris region, Rayan Bamba is a defender, who primarily plays on the right-hand side of the back four, but can also play at centre-back. A product of the club Montrouge FC 92, he arrived at Stade Rennais in July 2021 to play in the U19s Academy side. This athletic full-back, with roots in the Ivory Coast, was then promoted to the Reserves side a year later. He was awarded his Baccalauréat STMG (Business Studies) in September 2023. Regularly first-choice with the Reserves in the French 5th tier in the 2023/2024 season, he made a great start to the season, playing 18 matches, and scoring once in that time. He was also given the opportunity periodically to train with the Professional squad. He would eventually be rewarded with a first call-up for the First Team for the away fixture in Strasbourg, on Matchday 27, on 31st March 2024. On 27th May 2024, he signed his first professional contract for one season with the Red and Blacks, and was loaned out to French third-tier outfit Concarneau (National) on 17th July 2024 (without a buy-out clause). Elected best right—back in National at the end of his loan spell with the “Tunamen”, he extended his contract with Stade Rennais by an additional year to 2027. After making a couple of appearances in the preseason friendlies for Rennes in the Summer of 2025, Bamba was loaned back out - this time to Nancy in the French Second Division (Ligue 2) - in order to guarantee more game-time, signing a season-long deal on 13th August 2025 with the club from the East of France. The loan arrangement had no buy-out clause. His season with Nancy would be seen as satisfactory, and upon his return to Rennes at the end of his loan spell, Bamba would extend his deal with Stade Rennais by a year, tying him to the club until 2028, before taking on a new challenge in loan deal at newly-promoted side Le Mans in Ligue 1 at the end of July 2026.