Mikayil Faye is on the verge of leaving Rennes for a season-long loan at German second-tier side Nuremberg, where he will play under World Cup winner Miroslav Klose, after failing to establish himself in Ligue 1 or Serie A.
The Senegal international, who joined Stade Rennais from Barcelona in 2024 for €10m, has struggled to justify his fee and secure regular football. Now 22, the defender is poised to relaunch his career in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Faye is expected in Nuremberg within the next 48 hours to undergo a medical before completing the move.
Rennes stint fails to take off
Signed with high expectations from FC Barcelona, Faye endured a subdued debut campaign in France.
He made just 13 Ligue 1 appearances in his first season at Rennes, never fully breaking into the starting XI and often finding himself on the fringes of the matchday squad.
Despite his reputation as a promising defender and a full international with Senegal, competition for places and the club’s tactical choices limited his opportunities in Brittany.
Still under contract with Rennes until 2028, Faye earns an annual salary of €1.28m (around 832m CFA francs), underlining the level of investment the French club committed to when they secured his signature from the Spanish giants.
Difficult loan spell in Italy
In search of playing time, Rennes sent Faye on loan to Serie A side Cremonese last season. But his time in Italy proved equally challenging.
Faye featured in only nine matches for Cremonese, who finished 18th, and was unable to make a significant impact in a struggling side. That limited involvement led to his early return to Rennes at the beginning of July.
The lack of continuity across France and Italy has left the defender in need of a more stable platform to develop, prompting another loan move this time to Germany.
Loan to Nuremberg with option to buy
Nuremberg, currently in the 2. Bundesliga, are coached by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who took charge of the club in 2024.
The deal for Faye is understood to be a one-season loan with an option to buy at the end of the campaign. The value of the purchase option has not yet been disclosed.
Faye, a product of the renowned Diambars FC academy in Senegal, now has his market value estimated at around €4.5m less than half of what Rennes paid to bring him from Barcelona.
For Rennes, the move offers another chance for their investment to appreciate, while for Faye it represents an opportunity to reboot a stalling European career in a more forgiving environment.
Fresh start under Klose
Working under Klose, one of Germany’s greatest-ever forwards, could offer Faye a fresh perspective and a more hands-on developmental environment.
Nuremberg will hope the Senegalese defender can bring athleticism and versatility to their back line, while Faye will be aiming to secure regular minutes and rebuild his confidence.
If the loan proves successful, Nuremberg’s option to buy could open the door to a permanent move, potentially drawing a line under what has so far been a frustrating spell at Rennes.
