The transfer season has begun!

Following a brief break after the end of another lively Ligue 1 season, the Rennes staff were back to work yesterday as they managed to recruit two new players as well as saying goodbye to another.

Rennes were delighted to announce the signings of goalkeeper Paul Nardi on-loan from Monaco and Anthony Ribelin from Montpellier on a three year deal - the player's first professional contract.

Both players are highly rated from the teams that they have arrived from. They are young rising talents in the French game and are looking to Rennes to progress their development at this early stage in their careers.

Offensive midfielder Ribelin said on his arrival to Roazhon Park:

"Montpellier offered me a professional contract when I received the one from Rennes, I didn't hesitate. here is ambition and very good players at Rennes. In addition Rennes seems to be a lovely town.

"The new manager preaches the game and I like it. Christian Gourcuff is a grand tactician. The new project interests me."

Whereas loanee Nardi said:

"I have been welcomed very well. The first impression is very positive. It's an honour and a pride to join Rennes.

"The facilities are of a very good quality. Everything is here in order for me to continue to progress.

"I know Paul-Georges Ntep and Adrien Hunou well, who will be returning from a loan.

"Well evidently, my objective is to play a maximum of matches and mostly to progress."

A We Are Rennes Twitter poll found that a vast majority of fans think that Nardi will have the better season out of him and Ribelin.

Rumours suggest French international and Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil will leave the club this summer alongside his team mate and Euro 2016 player Kamil Grosicki.

Departing Rennes this season is centre-back Cedric Hountondji who has signed for Corsican outfit Gazelec Ajaccio.

The 22-year-old has been a player at the club since 2009 but had spent the last two season on-loan at Chateauroux and Auxerre respectively.

The new Gazelec man told the Rennes staff and supporters:

"Today a page has turned with Rennes, my club of formation, who have given me a lot in seven long years and I thank them.

"I thank every person working at the club as well as the supporters."

Lastly, the Roazhon Park pitch is in the course of being relayed for the coming season after hosting a rugby tournament in the last few weeks.

Who will be playing on the new pitch in August remains to be seen with more than a month of the transfer window still to go.

#transfers #nardi #ribelin #hountondji