Yoann Gourcuff signs for Rennes

Yoann Gourcuff has signed a deal to return to Stade Rennais on a free transfer until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old came through the Rennes academy and scored nine goals in 80 appearances for the club before leaving for AC Milan as a 20-year-old in 2006.

From there, he moved back to Ligue 1 with Bordeaux and after his five year-spell at Lyon came to an end upon the expiration of his contract in the summer, he has returned to his first professional club on a short-term basis.

The injury-plagued French international agreed a deal to sign for the club in September once he had recovered from his latest fitness setback, and he has now officially put pen to paper.

He told Ouest-France: "I am very happy, and I hope to be back on the field very soon and enjoying myself. The difficulty with this injury is that it is pretty rare and there is no standard timeline for recovery."

"I love football too much [to retire]. There was no question of ending my career just yet. I watch all of Stade Rennais' matches and I am in regular contact with the president and others at the club."

Gourcuff has not played a competitive match since March 21 due to injury.