The French livewire has secured a big-money transfer to the Ligue 1 champions as they look to move on from the sale of the Real Madrid megastar
Few European clubs have a stronger pedigree for producing wonderkids than Rennes. Over the past few years, the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Ousmane Dembele and Mathys Tel have all made a major impact in the first team as teenagers before being snapped up by the continent's elite for sizeable fees.
This trend shows no sign of slowing down any time soon either. The latest gem off the conveyor belt is Desire Doue, with the 19-year-old – who was included in GOAL'sNXGN 2024 list – earning rave reviews for his Ligue 1 performances last season.
Unsurprisingly, these displays sent Europe's top clubs into a spin. Over the course of the summer, a host of sides were linked with a move for Doue. The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich all took a look, but it's PSG, as they look to rebuild their attack following the departure of Kylian Mbappe, that have got their man for a reported €50 million (£43m/$55m) fee.
So what is it that makes the versatile Frenchman such an exciting signing for the Ligue 1 champions?
Getty ImagesWhere it all began
Doue grew up in Angers, with his family boasting an impressive footballing pedigree. His cousins Yann Ghobo and Marc-Olivier Doue are currently on the books of Toulouse and Spanish side CD Eldense, respectively, while his brother Guela also plays for Rennes.
It was through his older sibling that Desire got his first big break, too. During a series of trials, Guele's younger brother also caught the club's eye.
"For the big one, it was all complete, and now we had to enquire about the little one, and the parents informed us that he was three years younger. That was no problem, as soon as he was able to get his license, he did and he joined us," Rennes youth coach Matthieu Le Scornet recalled, as quoted by .
He showed such promise, in fact, that Rennes even broke their youth recruitment policy to snap him up. Usually, the club would not sign any player under nine years old, but they simply could not wait for Doue.
"He always had a ball at his feet and was already at the top in terms of motor skills. You quickly see it when a little one has so much control, it catches the eye," Florent Bourcie, another of his youth coaches, has admitted.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break
After showing this early promise, Doue progressed swiftly through the Rennes youth ranks and began training with the senior squad in January 2022. Wider attention would not come until that summer's European Under-17 Championship, though.
Forming part of the victorious France squad, Doue netted his country's first goal of competition from the spot against Poland, before swiftly doubling his personal tally with a pinpoint free-kick just a few minutes later to help his side record an emphatic 6-1 win.
Alongside the likes of Tel and Warren Zaire-Emery, Doue would go on to start all but one of his side's subsequent games en route to the final, where Les Bleus would eventually vanquish the Netherlands 2-1.
Speaking in the wake of that triumph, Doue said: "Hearing the final whistle and knowing we are champions of Europe is incredible. All the pressure disappears and it is just pure joy. A perfect moment."
He received glowing reviews from national team manager Jose Alcocer, too. "Desire reads the games well, he is calm and at ease on the pitch. He has a strong personality, but he often asks for a lot of advice to improve and has a professional mentality."
Getty ImagesHow it's going
With the tournament raising his profile significantly, Rennes' first-team boss Bruno Genesio felt it time that the starlet was properly integrated into the senior ranks. Indeed, in the very first game of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season, 17-year-old Doue was introduced as a substitute with 17 minutes left to play.
He didn't have to wait long for his maiden league start, either. That honour was bestowed upon him in a 2-1 defeat to Lens, though he cushioned the blow by scoring his first professional goal the following week in a win over Brest. It would be one of four times he made the net bulge in his breakout season, with Doue registering 34 appearances across no less than seven different positions for his boyhood side.
Last campaign was even better. After a string of spritely cameos off the bench, Doue eventually established himself as a starter on the left wing, though he was still moved around to other roles when required. By the time the season came to an end, he had made over 40 appearances in all competitions, racking up four goals and six assists along the way.
Doue was also part of the France squad that earned a silver medal at the Olympics, scoring in his only start in the tournament, a 3-0 win over New Zealand in the group stages.
Getty ImagesBiggest strengths
.It might sound like hyperbole, but we would strongly encourage any doubters to simply check out some footage of Doue in action. You'll soon be converted by his mesmerising dribbling skills.
All season long the 19-year-old breezed past burly Ligue 1 defenders like they weren't there. Even in motion the ball remains conjoined to his boot like a sticky nightclub floor and his signature roulette has already claimed many a victim. Doue averaged 3.54 successful take-ons per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season; that's more than Mbappe for goodness sake!
His ability to retain possession under pressure makes him capable of causing havoc in the final third. Last campaign, he averaged an outstanding 4.87 shot-creating actions (the two offensive actions leading to an effort on goal) per 90 minutes, again bettering the figures posted by Mbappe. It's also more than the likes of Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze and Rafael Leao managed, too.
A significant proportion of his attacking influence comes from his ability in one-on-one situations, though he's also accomplished at finding more advanced team-mates with probing through balls. Out of possession, he has plenty of energy, as is required to be a top-class, attack-minded player in the modern game.
