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.
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]
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]
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]
On 21 July 2025, Merlin signed with Ligue 1 side Rennes, signing a four-year deal.[15]
| 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 | ||
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