Europe 1 with AFP 10:51 p.m., January 26, 2023

In difficulty in Lyon, Karl Toko Ekambi joins Rennes on loan without an option to buy for the end of the season, where he must compensate for the absence of Martin Terrier, injured, the two clubs announced on Thursday.

For Rennes, he is an experienced player responsible for strengthening an attack that has been deprived of its top scorer.

For the Cameroonian international, often prolific 2017 African champion but who has not scored since September, this is an opportunity to relaunch.

Stalled in Lyon, Karl Toko Ekambi has announced that he will join Rennes on loan without an option to buy for the end of the season. 

He does not arrive in unknown territory: he started with Hamari Traoré at Paris FC, played with Baptiste Santamaria and Flavien Tait in Angers, crossed paths with Amine Gouiri in Lyon and played in the 2022 World Cup with Christopher Wooh.

"We feel a lot of complicity between the Rennes players on the pitch. Everyone plays for each other and I am very proud to be part of this project", explained the player quoted in a press release by Stade Rennes.

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Tracked by the sports director of Rennes

Born in Paris and launched at Paris FC, Karl Toko Ekambi passed through Sochaux (L2, 2014-2016) before discovering the L1 in Angers (2016-2018) and leaving for Villarreal, in the Spanish championship (2018- 2020).

In January 2020, it was Florian Maurice, current sports director of Rennes then in post at OL, who brought him to Lyon.

"He is above all a player who, per season, scores between ten and fifteen goals. His maturity is also an added value, in the game but also in the locker room", assured Maurice in the club press release.

In Lyon, despite some good periods, he was above all illustrated by some resounding failures and a certain irregularity, which earned him the animosity of some of the supporters.

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Whistles and insults

Two weeks ago, he suffered whistles and insults until his exit on the hour mark in the defeat against Strasbourg (2-1), before showing his frustration by kicking in a trash can in the corridors from OL Park.

"I know that he has had a difficult time in Lyon, I know the context and I tell myself that in a more reassuring context and where he will be more confident, we can well revive him", assured this week on RMC the Rennes coach Bruno Genesio, who has also suffered the wrath of Lyon supporters in the past.

According to OL, Karl Toko Ekambi is on loan for 1.5 million euros, with a possible bonus of one million euros linked to his performance.

The player's salary, under contract until 2024 with Lyon, will be paid by Rennes until the end of the season.