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Rennes are on the brink of completing a significant signing in the transfer window after agreeing to a €28 million deal to acquire highly regarded defender Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse. The former England Under-21 European champion has secured an attractive salary package to make the switch to Brittany, following an outstanding two-year spell by the Garonne River.

The Breton heavyweights are finalising a comprehensive agreement worth €28m, including €3m in potential bonuses, to bring the English centre-back from their Ligue 1 rivals. Rennes have acted decisively this summer, adding four new players to their ranks in addition to an agreement for Sunderland forward Eliezer Mayenda. To persuade the 23-year-old to join, the management offered a lucrative wage deal that will place him among the top three earners at Roazhon Park.

According to Foot Mercato, hesitation from Premier League sides to formalise their interest opened the door for Rennes to move in for the York-born defender. The club’s leadership has been transparent about their intention to recruit Cresswell, identifying him as the perfect structural leader to strengthen their defensive setup ahead of a challenging European campaign.

Rennes sporting director Loic Desire confirmed the club’s pursuit during an appearance on En Pleine Lucarne, saying: “He’s one of the two or three players we’ve targeted, yes. He knows Ligue 1, he’s a young defender with experience. But he’s not the only one.”

Toulouse, meanwhile, are poised to make a considerable profit from the transfer. The Occitan side had originally signed Cresswell from Leeds United for just €4.5m two years ago. They had previously shown strong resolve by rejecting a €23m winter offer from Wolfsburg and turning down Premier League interest from West Ham. Cresswell departs the Stadium de Toulouse as one of Ligue 1’s most reliable defenders, having contributed eight goals and five assists across 66 matches.

The English defender will now take on an immediate leadership role as Rennes gear up for both domestic and European challenges. After finishing sixth in Ligue 1 last season, the Breton club can offer Cresswell his first taste of Europa League football. Completing his medical and joining pre-season training will be vital to ensure defensive stability ahead of the competitive season’s start.