RB Leipzig has strengthened its defense with French defender Maxime Estève, who joins from FC Burnley on a five-year deal. The 24-year-old comes from Premier-League-Absteiger FC Burnley and will play for RB Leipzig until summer 2031. According to Sky, the Champions-League-Teilnehmer will pay 25 million euros plus bonus payments for the services of the defender, who was an absolute starter in the past season on the island.
"The signing of Maxime is a very important transfer for us", said Sport-Geschäftsführer Marcel Schäfer: "We are looking forward to a defender who, despite his young age, has already gained a lot of experience in France and England and has developed impressively in Burnley." Estève will bring the team "size, athleticism, a strong left foot, courage in the build-up and the ability to actively defend forward." He is also "a natural leader".
Estève was trained at HSC Montpellier and made his professional debut there in August 2021. He quickly developed into a starter in Ligue 1, so that he already changed to FC Burnley in England at the age of 21. "I'm coming to Leipzig to help the team directly, take responsibility and be successful with the team together", said Estève. The club stands "for intense, courageous football, for development and for great ambitions". This fits "very well" with him.
