Yaël Thebault signs his first professional contract

The defender of the 2007 generation, who has 12 caps for France's youth teams, has signed his first professional contract with Stade Rennais F.C. until 2028.

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© Stade Rennais F.C.

With 20 National 3 matches played by the age of 17, Yaël Thebault has already shown real quality and a definite predisposition. A technical defender in the 2007 generation and an international with the French youth teams, the player who joined ETP Odorico a year ahead of schedule in 2021 is proving to be a real prospect for our academy.
First spotted playing for Versailles, he has gone from strength to strength, appearing consistently in the Gambardella (8 games, 5 starts) and regularly with the Tricolores (4 games at U16 level, 8 at U17 level). An agile rebounder, the Parisian by birth has signed his first professional contract until 2028, following in the footsteps of Mohamed Kader Meïté.
The signing is a fine mark of confidence from Stade Rennais F.C. in the player who injured knee ligaments last October. Yaël is continuing his rehabilitation after starting the season with the Espoirs (5 appearances). The defender is therefore making a long-term commitment to the Rouge et Noir.

 

© Stade Rennais F.C.

Yaël Thebault : 
« I'm very proud and happy to sign my first professional contract with my training club. It's the reward for a lot of hard work over many years. I'd like to thank the club for the confidence they've shown in me, and it's a great sign just a month after a serious injury. It's going to keep me away from the pitch for a while, which will be a difficult time to overcome, but to see that the club is there for me gives me a lot of strength. I was in a good frame of mind and had a lot to work on, but things happen and you have to get over it. It's going to give me a boost during my rehabilitation so that I can come back even stronger next season. I'm going to work hard every day.
I've had a lot of encounters along the way that have helped me get to where I am today. I've put in an enormous amount of work, and the people around me are always there for me. I'd like to thank all the managers, educators and coaches I've had since I was very young, as well as the ETP staff, all the people who contribute to our development.
I was born in Paris but my parents are Breton, my family lives in Brittany, so I feel Breton. When Stade Rennais came to me five years ago, I didn't hesitate, I knew that this was where I wanted to play. Training is very important to the club, and that's a major advantage.»


Denis Arnaud, Académie Director : 
« He is one of the most promising players of the 2007 generation. He has been rewarded for his career, his personality, his player profile and his mentality. He totally matches the values of Stade Rennais. He's further proof of the potential of the Rennes youth system. It's only a first step on the road to becoming a professional, but it's a pleasure to see him sign, despite his injury. It's a very strong vote of confidence in the values that Yaël shares with the club. It's rare in professional football to offer a first contract to an injured player, but we put human values at the heart of the project. The club has to be there for the players in difficult times and support them in all circumstances. If we can build a man, we have a good chance of shaping a very good player.
Yaël is an intelligent boy, already a professional in his head, he's structured and completely committed to his project. We're even more delighted to sign a boy with a full head of steam, who's composed and aware of his qualities and areas for improvement. He's on the right track, and once again that's the reward for the work of the Stade Rennais coaching staff. A lot of people work hard to support young players, and each of them has a role to play at some point in their development. The club's DNA remains training.»