Back in 2024, Charlie Cresswell (24) made the decision to leave formative club Leeds United in order to embark on a new adventure in France. Speaking to Get French Football News, the former England youth international spoke about that decision.

“It was a, I think that was the biggest decision I made in football. Because leaving home, leaving England, is such a scary, scary decision. And for me at the time, it was a big decision. I’ve been a Leeds fan since I was eight. I’d been at the club since I was 10, but, looking back, I was 20 years old with no games and I needed to get out and go play,” he told us.

European football a temptation for Cresswell

Cresswell initially joined Toulouse FC. A key figure under Carles Martínez Novell across the two seasons, he made the step up to Stade Rennais over the summer. Tonight, he will face Juventus in the UEFA Europa League. Just as he did when he left for France two years ago, Cresswell revealed that he had options to return to England over the summer. Brighton and Hove Albion were notably linked.

He explained his decision to make the move to Rennes. “It’s a club that sells itself,” began the Englishman. “There’s that expectation to win games. That was important for the next step. Being 24, it’s about keeping building to get where you want to get to. I was picking the right place where I can grow again and keep improving. And the next step for me was to play in Europe and especially to have that expectation to win because, with where I want to go, I’m going to need to build that know-how of how to win games under pressure.”

>> Read our piece in partnership with The Guardian HERE