After four seasons as the Africa Cup of Nations for local players in 2018, Morocco's defensive lineman Nayef Akerd moved to the ranks of French Dijon and played with him for two seasons before landing a backpacker in Rennes in the summer of 2020.

Amid reports that his move to play in the English Football League was approaching following West Ham United's interest in his services, Rennes and Morocco defensive mogul Naif Akder sent a farewell message to his club and supporters

"With so much impression, I announced that I had my last red and black Ren match in Lille on May 21."

The Moroccan international, who has been linked by the English and French media with a move to West Ham United in a deal of 23-35 million euros, added: "It is a difficult decision because I have had extraordinary moments here since I moved to the team in August 2020" from Dijon.

"Between discovering together the Champions League competition, qualifying for last season's Conference League competition, and qualifying hard for this season's Europa League competition, the noisy atmosphere at the Roazon Park Stadium against Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon, Leicester City (English) or Marseille, I thank the various components of the club one by one."

"My colleagues with 80 fights in the last two seasons who are and will remain my second family," he said, before concluding his message, "I did everything possible from the first to the last day as in training, on and off the field and will be your first cheerleader."