A product of the Cannes youth system, Pinault moved to England to join Second Division club Colchester United on a free transfer in June 1999.
[7][8] Pinault remained with Colchester United until his contract expired at the end of the 2003–04 season,[4] by which time he had made 157 appearances and scored seven goals for the club.
[14] In 2006, Pinault's remarks about his time at Blundell Park were chosen as one of BBC Sport's Quotes of the Year:[15] After a year out of football with an ankle ligament injury,[16] Pinault returned to England sign a one-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer in July 2006.
[17] Despite being transfer-listed by incoming manager Scott Fitzgerald in December 2006,[18] Pinault remained at Griffin Park for the duration of the 2006–07 season and made 37 appearances, scoring one goal.
[22] Through successive one-year extensions of his contract,[23][24] he remained at the Broadfield Stadium for three seasons and made over 110 appearances for the club.