Arsenal and Everton are going to have to wait until at least next summer if the Premier League clubs want to sign Cameroon International Stephane M’Bia, after the midfielder signed a new deal with Ligue 1 side Rennes.

Both the Gunners and the Toffees were keen to bring 22-year-old M’Bia to the Premiership this summer, with the Merseyside club reportedly making a firm offer to bring the player to Goodison Park. Arsenal are also understood to have shown a keen interest in M’Bia, with recent reports suggesting that manager Arsene Wenger could make a move for M’Bia, who is a product of the same Cameroon youth academy as Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o, in January.

However, despite the speculation surrounding M’Bia at the Route de Lorient, the midfielder has decided to put pen to paper on a deal to the end of the season with Rennes. So any move to Goodison or the Emirates Stadium would have to wait until next summer, with Les Rouges et Noirs general manager Pierre Dreossi confirming the Cameroon midfielder will be allowed to move then.

Dreossi told the club's official website: ‘The player will continue to wear the colours of Stade Rennais FC for the 2008/09 season and is assured of an opportunity to transfer from next season.”