Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 12:21 PM• Chris Meijer • Last update: 12:30

Baptiste Santamaria is exchanging SC Freiburg for Stade Rennes, both clubs announce through the official channels. The 26-year-old midfielder has signed a four-year contract with the French club and delivers Freiburg according to L’Equipe and Sky Deutschland fourteen million euros. With the arrival of Santamaria, Stade Rennes seems to have found an alternative to Edson Álvarez.

The number twelve of the Ligue 1 has been emphatically after Álvarez in recent weeks. Made in mid-July The Telegraph first report of a bid from Stade Rennes for Álvarez. According to the newspaper, the French then wanted to pay eighteen million euros, an offer that was brushed aside by Ajax. Marc Overmars, director of football affairs in Amsterdam, initially denied an offer from Stade Rennes and emphasized that Álvarez’s departure was a ‘no go’.

Last week reported The Telegraph that Stade Rennes had reported to Ajax for Álvarez with an increased offer of twenty million euros and a resale percentage. Trainer Erik ten Hag announced on Saturday after the game between Ajax and NEC – in which Álvarez had a base place for the first time this season, after he joined later during the preparation due to participation in the Gold Cup – that he will not lose the Mexican midfielder. want to. “I did that”, replied Ten Hag to a question from the NOS whether he had indicated internally that Álvarez should not leave. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s not an issue, we can close that book. Edson Álvarez is playing at Ajax this season.”

Stade Rennes therefore seems to have switched quickly and presents a new defensive midfielder on Tuesday. Santamaria only played one year in Freiburg, which transferred ten million euros to SCO Angers to bring him to Germany. The former youth international for France – who previously also played for Tours FC – played a total of 33 official matches for Freiburg. Incidentally, the transfer of Santamaria also seems to remove an option for Teun Koopmeiners. The AZ midfielder was also linked to Stade Rennes at an earlier stage.