Benjamin BOURIGEAUD

On Wednesday 14th June 2017, Stade Rennais welcomed Benjamin Bourigeaud from RC Lens on a transfer deal costing them 3.5 Million Euros. The central midfielder who came through the youth setup in Lens, signed for 4 seasons to bolster a midfield weakened by the departure of Gelson Fernandes a few days previously. He finished the 2017/2018 as the club’s top goalscorer, and helped them qualify for the Europa League through their league position. His 2018/2019 season was even more impressive. With 52 appearances, he held the record for the number of matches played in a season by a Stade Rennais player, and was one of the key players in the most successful season in the club’s history, featuring victory in the French Cup Final, and an excellent Europa League campaign, notably with his stunning strike against Arsenal in the last 16. Highly sought-after in the 2019 close season, he decided to continue his adventure in Rennes, and extended his contract for another two seasons on 10th December. On 19th May 2022, he was awarded the UNFP Player of the Month for Ligue 1 for the first time in his career, crowning an excellent season with the Red and Blacks, and was even pre-selected for the French national team for the European Nations League.. He finished the season 2021/2022 with over ten goals to his name and over ten assists. On 19th May 2022, he received the UNFP Player of the Month Award, crowning his excellent season with Rennes. After a neverending soap opera during the summer transfer window, he chose to extend his Rennes contract by three years to 2026, on 2nd September 2022. Scorer of numerous goals (including a magnificent hat-trick in the Return leg of the Round of 16 in the Europa League against the great AC Milan on 22nd February 2024) and provider of many assists, he reached the landmark of 300 appearances for Stade Rennais in the away fixture at Lille (2-2 draw) on 10th March 2024, lifting him to 7th in the all-time list of club appearances in Red and Black. On 30th August 2024, after over 7 years at the club, Bourigeaud signed for Al-Duhail in Qatar for 10 Million Euros. He would leave a huge impression on the Stade Rennais, reaching the status of club legend with a final tally of 66 goals, 63 assists in 311 appearances. He also helped his side to 6 qualifications for European football in seven seasons, and also lifted the French Cup in 2019.