John Boye

Recommended by John Mensah, Ghanaian defender John Boye arrived from his country on a loan agreement. On a trial in August 2008, he showed the qualities that made it a full international, and quickly convinced the Rennes staff to offer him a contract. He eventually was loaned to Rennes for a year, with the aim to consolidate his position with the reserves before aiming for a spot in the first team. In 2009, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes. An essential member of Rennes' reserve team, he extended that contract by one year, and is now at the club until June 2011. Despite a succession of poor performances with the Reserve, he was called to the professional squad by Frédéric Antonetti to cater for the injuries of several regular starters. Unexpectedly, the Ghanaian revealed himself in Ligue 1 by showing physical and defending abilities rarely seen when he played with the Rennes reserve.