James LÉA SILIKI

James Léa Siliki arrived from Guingamp during the summer of 2014. He quickly won over his bosses with his quality and his versatility as midfielder or as a left-back. On 5th June 2016, he signed a first professional contract for 3 years with the Red and Blacks. In great form with the Reserves, he made his first senior appearance against Nantes on 28th January 2017. He became an integral part of the team in the second half of the 2017/2018 season, scoring his first three professional goals and helping his team qualify for the Europa League. In 2018/2019 he was less successful, but still managed an assist in the Europa League tie against Arsenal, and then scored his penalty in the shoot-out against Paris Saint Germain after coming on as a substitute in the French Cup Final. On 22nd August 2019, he extended his contract for another two seasons. Having made just 41 appearances in his last two seasons with Rennes, Léa Siliki was loaned with an automatic buy-out clause - worth 2.5 Million Euros - to Middlesbrough, who were playing in the Championship, on 31st August 2021. After returning from his loan spell, he would be released early from his Rennes contract, and free to sign for Estoril in Portugal.