Azor MATUSIWA

After the defection of Nemanja Matic, Stade Rennais were on the lookout for a defensive midfielder, and signed Azor Matusiwa. Developed at Ajax, before his career took off with Groningen, he made a name for himself in Ligue 1 with Reims between 2021 and 2024. On 20th January 2024, the Dutch player of Angolan roots, signed on a four-and-a-half year deal, in exchange for 16 Million Euros, with 4 Million Euros in potential bonuses. Despite his undoubted ability as a ball-winner, Matusiwa still struggled to command a regular spot in the starting line up during his year-and-a-half in Rennes colours. He did make 47 appearances in that time, scoring one solitary goal, and providing five assists. His goal and two of the assists came in the same match, a 5-1 win away at Le Havre, on 13th April 2025. But with an uncertain future under the new boss, Habib Beye, the Dutch midfielder opted for a new challenge on the other side of the English Channel, with the Tractor Boys of Ipswich Town, recently relegated to the Championship, after a brief season in the Premier League. Matusiwa signed for Ipswich in a four-year deal, worth an estimated 11.5 Million Euros (excluding bonuses) to Rennes.