Following the 2006–07 season, on 11 August 2007 M'Vila, alongside teammates Le Tallec and Camara, signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal with Rennes.
He spent the entire season playing on the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur in the fourth division before being officially promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 15 shirt for the 2008–09 season.
Due to having minor surgery on his toenail and his attitude being questioned by manager Guy Lacombe, M'Vila missed significant practice time with the senior team and began the season with the club's Championnat de France amateur team for the second consecutive year.
Despite Lacombe questioning the player's attitude, M'Vila has declared that he bears no ill feelings towards Lacombe.
He subsequently appeared in 20 matches with the reserve team and scored no goals as the team finished first among professional clubs in its group, thus qualifying for the playoffs, where the club lost to Lyon in the semi-finals.

Following a successful international campaign with the France under-19 team, on 13 August 2009, new manager Frédéric Antonetti announced that M'Vila would be earning some significant playing time with the club for the 2009–10 season.
Two days later, after appearing with the CFA team in the first week of the season, he was named to the 19-man squad to face Nice.
He made his professional debut in that match appearing as a substitute in the 80th minute.
Due to the suspension of Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto, M'Vila earned his first start the following week against Marseille.
He played the entire match, which ended 1–1.
The following week against Lens, M'Vila earned his first professional red card.
After returning from suspension, M'Vila never lost his place within the team breaking the starting eleven in all the remaining league matches, save for one.

On 15 September 2009, M'Vila signed a contract extension with Rennes until June 2013.
On 27 August 2010, he agreed to another extension with the club.
The new deal extends until 2014.
On 18 December, in a 1–0 win over Valenciennes, M'Vila played the entire match completing 100 of his 112 attempted passes, the former statistical output being a league-high for the season.
Due to his performances domestically and internationally, M'Vila was linked to Spanish club Real Madrid and English club Liverpool during the fall season.
In December 2010, the midfielder quelled the interest by declaring his commitment to Rennes and also jokingly stating that he would only depart Rennes after scoring his first goal.
Coincidentally, he scored his first professional goal on 9 January 2011 in a 7–0 hammering of Championnat National club Cannes in the Coupe de France.
A week later, M'Vila scored his first career league goal in a 4–0 win over Arles-Avignon.
On 20 February, M'Vila scored the opening goal for Rennes, converting a free kick, in a 2–1 win over Toulouse.
M'Vila was rewarded for his performances during the season with a nomination for the UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.
The midfielder lost out on the award to national team teammate Mamadou Sakho, but was given consolation with an appearance on the organization's Team of the Year.
A day later, Rennes confirmed on its website that M'Vila had signed a one-year contract extension with the club.
The new deal will keep him with Rennes until 2015.

M'Vila opened the 2011–12 season making his European debut in a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against Georgian club Metalurgi Rustavi on 28 July 2011.
M'Vila played the entire match in a 5–2 win.
On 25 August, he scored his first and only goal of the campaign in a 4–0 second leg win over Serbian club Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League playoff round.
On 15 September, M'Vila captained Rennes for the first time in a 1–1 league draw with Nancy.
He finished the campaign appearing in a career-high 50 matches, which included all 38 league contests, as Rennes finished in sixth place.
Despite consistently appearing with the team, as the season progressed,
Following the 2006–07 season, on 11 August 2007 M'Vila, alongside teammates Le Tallec and Camara, signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal with Rennes. He spent the entire season playing on the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur in the fourth division before being officially promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 15 shirt for the 2008–09 season. Due to having minor surgery on his toenail and his attitude being questioned by manager Guy Lacombe, M'Vila missed significant practice time with the senior team and began the season with the club's Championnat de France amateur team for the second consecutive year. Despite Lacombe questioning the player's attitude, M'Vila has declared that he bears no ill feelings towards Lacombe. He subsequently appeared in 20 matches with the reserve team and scored no goals as the team finished first among professional clubs in its group, thus qualifying for the playoffs, where the club lost to Lyon in the semi-finals.
Following a successful international campaign with the France under-19 team, on 13 August 2009, new manager Frédéric Antonetti announced that M'Vila would be earning some significant playing time with the club for the 2009–10 season. Two days later, after appearing with the CFA team in the first week of the season, he was named to the 19-man squad to face Nice. He made his professional debut in that match appearing as a substitute in the 80th minute. Due to the suspension of Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto, M'Vila earned his first start the following week against Marseille. He played the entire match, which ended 1–1. The following week against Lens, M'Vila earned his first professional red card. After returning from suspension, M'Vila never lost his place within the team breaking the starting eleven in all the remaining league matches, save for one.
On 15 September 2009, M'Vila signed a contract extension with Rennes until June 2013. On 27 August 2010, he agreed to another extension with the club. The new deal extends until 2014. On 18 December, in a 1–0 win over Valenciennes, M'Vila played the entire match completing 100 of his 112 attempted passes, the former statistical output being a league-high for the season. Due to his performances domestically and internationally, M'Vila was linked to Spanish club Real Madrid and English club Liverpool during the fall season. In December 2010, the midfielder quelled the interest by declaring his commitment to Rennes and also jokingly stating that he would only depart Rennes after scoring his first goal. Coincidentally, he scored his first professional goal on 9 January 2011 in a 7–0 hammering of Championnat National club Cannes in the Coupe de France. A week later, M'Vila scored his first career league goal in a 4–0 win over Arles-Avignon. On 20 February, M'Vila scored the opening goal for Rennes, converting a free kick, in a 2–1 win over Toulouse. M'Vila was rewarded for his performances during the season with a nomination for the UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year. The midfielder lost out on the award to national team teammate Mamadou Sakho, but was given consolation with an appearance on the organization's Team of the Year. A day later, Rennes confirmed on its website that M'Vila had signed a one-year contract extension with the club. The new deal will keep him with Rennes until 2015.
M'Vila opened the 2011–12 season making his European debut in a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against Georgian club Metalurgi Rustavi on 28 July 2011. M'Vila played the entire match in a 5–2 win. On 25 August, he scored his first and only goal of the campaign in a 4–0 second leg win over Serbian club Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League playoff round. On 15 September, M'Vila captained Rennes for the first time in a 1–1 league draw with Nancy. He finished the campaign appearing in a career-high 50 matches, which included all 38 league contests, as Rennes finished in sixth place. Despite consistently appearing with the team, as the season progressed, 
Yann M'Vila