Fulham are now deliberating whether to return with an improved proposal for the 20-year-old centre-back. Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty ImagesAug. 5, 2026 5:25 pm EDT Updated Fulham have made an offer to sign centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal from Rennes.The £20million bid fell considerably below Rennes’ valuation and was turned down, but interest from the west London club remains.Although Fulham are now deliberating whether to return with an improved proposal for the 20-year-old Morocco international, they are realistic about their chances and also have other options.Ait Boudlad was not called up by his country’s for the World Cup, however he did make their Africa Cup of Nations squad earlier this year.
Born in Marrakesh, the defender joined Rennes in 2024 and has scored twice in 20 Ligue 1 appearances for the club.Fulham have already completed the signings of striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid for a combined fee of €50m (£42.9m; $57.4m).They were the first arrivals of the summer under former Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Marco Silva in the Fulham dugout this summer.Fulham sold Issa Diop, another Morocco international centre-back, to Ipswich Town earlier this summer, while Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez also left Craven Cottage upon the expiry of their contracts — subsequently joining Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.
