Stade Rennais’ next move in the market is finally taking shape, and it is one that will resonate with Liverpool supporters who spent much of the past year watching a particular defender’s name crop up in connection with their own club.
The former Leeds United centre back is on the verge of joining Rennes, closing the door on a saga that at various points looked as though it might end at Anfield.
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According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Charlie Cresswell is set to undergo a medical on Sunday ahead of the switch.
The structure of the deal sees Rennes, who will feature in this season’s Europa League, pay an initial loan fee of two and a half million euros, with an obligation to make the transfer permanent next summer for a fixed twenty two and a half million euros, plus a further three million in bonuses.
Toulouse will also retain a ten per cent sell on clause.
Once the move is completed in 2027, Cresswell will sign a five year contract, and the transfer will rank as Toulouse’s second highest sale of all time.
For Liverpool, this represents the definitive end of a pursuit that had been simmering for some time.
The Reds first emerged as admirers last summer.
Following Jarell Quansah’s departure to Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool were left short of senior central defenders and reportedly scouted Cresswell on several occasions, viewing him as a younger and more affordable alternative to Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, as exclusively revealed by DAVEOCKOP.
That interest carried into the new year.
On 4 January 2026, French outlet Sport.fr reported Liverpool’s interest in the defender, with Newcastle also said to be monitoring him.
The links only intensified after Liverpool moved to strengthen their backline.
Having already agreed a deal in January to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for a fee in the region of fifty five million pounds, the Reds were reported to still be pursuing Cresswell, with claims they were ready to table a bid in excess of thirty million euros amid competition from Chelsea, Tottenham and others.
Toulouse, however, played hardball throughout, rejecting approaches of up to twenty five million euros in January and setting a demanding asking price for a player who had become one of the standout centre backs in Ligue 1.
Cresswell, a Leeds academy graduate, made 34 appearances last season and was part of the England side that won the Under 21 European Championship, featuring in the final victory over Germany.
In the end, Liverpool looked elsewhere, and their need for defensive reinforcement remains pressing given the injury concerns that have shadowed their pre season.
Cresswell, meanwhile, moves on to Rennes, another chapter in a career that very nearly took a very different turn.
🚨 Charlie Cresswell set to take medical on Sunday ahead of joining Rennes from Toulouse. Agreement €2.5m loan fee + buy obligation €22.5m + €3m & 10% future sale. 5yr #StadeRennais deal on completion – would be 2nd highest #Toulouse sale @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/zWiOEU2GGH
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 1, 2026