Quentin Merlin
French footballer (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quentin Merlin (born 16 May 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Ligue 1 club Rennes.
|
Merlin with Marseille in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 May 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Nantes, France | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rennes | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2012 | FC Goélands Samaritains | ||
| 2012–2013 | Nantes | ||
| 2013–2015 | Pornic Foot | ||
| 2015–2021 | Nantes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2023 | Nantes B | 10 | (1) |
| 2021–2024 | Nantes | 68 | (3) |
| 2024–2025 | Marseille | 37 | (1) |
| 2025– | Rennes | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017–2018 | France U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | France U17 | 6 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | France U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2021 | France U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | France U21 | 19 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 25 June 2025 | |||
Early life
Born in Nantes, Merlin grew up in Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer, in a family with Méricourtois origins. Football-wise, he was formed in Brittany, between the towns of Nantes and Pornic.[2][3][4]
Club career
Nantes
In January 2021, Merlin was selected by Nantes manager Raymond Domenech several times in the professional squad.[2][5][6] He eventually made his professional debut for Nantes on 10 February 2021, coming on as a half-time substitute for Ludovic Blas in a 4–2 Coupe de France loss to Lens.[7]
The manager who selected Merlin for the game was not on the bench as the young player entered the field, Domenech having been tested positive for COVID-19, and eventually learning he had been fired right after the Lens game.[8] Antoine Kombouaré succeeded him in the manager position.[9]
On 19 March 2021, Merlin signed his first professional contract with Nantes.[10] On 19 February 2022, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.[11] He achieved his first title with the club by winning the Coupe de France.[12]
Marseille
On 26 January 2024, Merlin moved to fellow Ligue 1 side Marseille, having agreed a contract until 2028.[13] The transfer fee paid to Nantes was reported as €12 million.[13] In the latter stages of the 2023–24 season, he became part of the team which reached the Europa League semi-finals.[14]
Rennes
On 21 July 2025, Merlin signed with Ligue 1 side Rennes, signing a four-year deal.[15]
International career
Career statistics
- As of match played 17 May 2025
| Club | Season | League | Coupe de France | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nantes B | 2020–21 | National 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | National 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23 | National 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 10 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 1 | ||||
| Nantes | 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 29 | 1 | |
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 68 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 81 | 0 | ||
| Marseille | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 10 | 0 | — | 7[a] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||
| Total | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 44 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 115 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 135 | 5 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
Nantes
- Coupe de France: 2021–22[12]
- Trophée des Champions runner-up: 2022
Individual
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2025[16]
