I felt bittersweet leaving Leeds United and it was a weird transfer that unfolded

Bittersweet is the word Glen Kamara has used to describe his Leeds United departure. The midfielder felt it was weird to leave the club after only one season, but felt attracted by the ambition of Rennes to get into Europe.

The 29-year-old made 42 appearances for the Whites across his one season at Elland Road and became a key midfield battler for Daniel Farke. Kamara reported for the start of pre-season in early July, but was sold for around £5m not long after to the Ligue 1 outfit.

While he acknowledges he is one of many players to have moved on in the summer, the Finland international is confident Leeds can get over the line this season.

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"It was bittersweet leaving Leeds," Kamara told Give Me Sport. "We were very close to going up. We probably should have gone up automatically.

“It was a tough one to take, losing in the play-off final. I was only there for a year, so moving so soon was a bit of a weird one, but things just happen quickly in football and you have to be ready.

"I had watched a lot of the Championship games before joining Leeds and had friends playing in the league. A lot of people said, when I signed, you basically need to average two points per game to go up.

“We almost got that and fell short. It was difficult to accept. Some players have moved on, including me, but Leeds will have a good chance of going back up to the Premier League. They have great players. They’ll be good [for promotion] this season."

Rennes finished inside France’s top six between 2020 and 2023, but dropped to 10th last term. Their ambition to qualify for European football, Kamara says, is what really attracted him.

"I was attracted by the club’s ambition to be in Europe,” he said. “I played a lot of European football at Rangers and getting back to that level would be amazing. That’s where this club wants to be.

"If we don’t make Europe this season we’ll be disappointed. It wouldn’t be good for us, especially with the squad we have. We have spent a lot of money this season. The goal is definitely to get into Europe. All the boys know it."