French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais have stepped up their pursuit of Sunderland forward Eliezer Mayenda, according to reports in France. The 21-year-old striker, who joined the Black Cats from FC Sochaux in July 2023, could be heading back to his home country this summer after struggling for regular game time last season.
Mayenda's Role in Sunderland's Premier League Return
Mayenda played a pivotal role in Sunderland's promotion back to the Premier League, scoring the opening goal in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United in May 2025. However, under manager Regis Le Bris, he failed to secure a consistent starting spot during the 2025-26 campaign, accumulating just 1,004 minutes across 21 appearances, with two goals and one assist. His first Premier League goal came in a 3-0 victory over West Ham United last August.
Interest from France and Potential Transfer Fee
Despite limited game time, Mayenda has attracted interest from several clubs. The weekend edition of Ouest-France reports that Stade Rennais are now pursuing the Spain Under-21 international, describing the operation as 'in the works'. The newspaper, citing its own sources, claims the deal could be finalised for less than £10 million. Mayenda signed a new contract with Sunderland last year, tying him to the club until 2030, and Transfermarkt values him at around £14 million.
Other Sunderland Transfer News
In other Sunderland news, the club has confirmed that defender Zak Johnson has joined York City on a permanent transfer. Johnson, a boyhood Sunderland fan, spent last season on loan at York, making 25 appearances in all competitions. He made his first-team debut for Sunderland at the age of 16, becoming the youngest outfield player for the club in 50 years. He also had loan spells at Notts County, Hartlepool United, and Dundalk.
