Anthony Rouault

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

In a Stade Rennais side sitting 5th and flirting with European qualification, 25-year-old centre-back Anthony Rouault has quietly emerged as the defensive anchor of the Breton club. Despite Les Rouges et Noirs' patchy LWLWW form exposing frailties elsewhere, Rouault's composure has remained unshaken—amassing 1,726 minutes across 21 appearances with remarkable discipline (just 2 yellow cards). His modest 1 goal and 1 assist barely scratch the surface of his value: at 6'2", the French defender combines aerial dominance with progressive distribution that liberates attacking talents like Ludovic Blas further up the pitch. Valued at €12 million, Rouault is forming an increasingly telepathic partnership with left-back Quentin Merlin that stabilizes Rennais' backline. For a club renowned for producing attacking stars, Rouault represents something different—a defensive pillar whose intelligent reading of danger eliminates the need for last-ditch recovery tackles. As Rennais chase a European spot, their French defender is proving that steel can be just as valuable as flair.