Albert GRONBAEK

On 15th July 2024, Stade Rennais captured the signing of Albert Grønbæk. The Danish midfielder, born in 2001 in Risskov, arrived from Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt, where he had spent two seasons, catching the eye with his performances notably in the Europa League. He signed for Rennes in a deal worth 12 Million Euros plus 3 Million Euros in bonuses, on a 5-year-deal, tying him to the club until 2029, to compensate the loss of Enzo Le Fée, who left to sign for Roma. He is the second Danish player to wear the Breton club's colours since Brian Jensen in the mid-1990s. After a promising start in pre-season, and then on the opening day of the 2024/2025 season, where he scored against Lyon in a statement 3-0 win at Roazhon Park, Grønbæk found himself struggling (much like the team as a whole) in Ligue 1, firstly under Julian Stéphan, and then when Jorge Sampaoli replaced him on the bench. His stay in Brittany would ultimately turn sour for the Danish International. In January 2025, he told the club that he wasn't feeling happy in his new surroundings, and he was given an opening in the Premier League, with bottom club Southampton, who already had two ex-Rennes players in the squad, with Kamaldeen Sulemana and Chelsea loanee, Lesley Ugochukwu. Grønbæk was loaned to the Saints on 21st January 2025 with a buyout clause estimated at 15.5 Million Euros, having scored twice, with one assist to his name in 18 appearances in league and cup for the Red and Blacks during his six-month spell at the club.