Wire flash
SportsRB Leipzig signs Burnley defender Maxime Estève for €25m, contract until 2031
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
RB Leipzig has completed the signing of French defender Maxime Estève (24) from Burnley for €25 million, with the player signing a contract until summer 2031. Estève, who will wear the number 3 jersey, previously played under current Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany at Burnley, where he became a regular starter. Kompany reportedly tried to lure Estève to Munich in summer 2025. Leipzig sports boss Marcel Schäfer praised Estève's size, athleticism, left foot, and leadership qualities. The transfer timing surprised observers because Leipzig's squad is already too large; the club originally planned to sell either Castello Lukeba or El Chadaille Bitshiabu before making another signing. However, Leipzig moved quickly to secure Estève due to fears that strong competition could derail the deal. Estève said he was convinced by the club's clear plan and ambitions.
Source report
RB Leipzig has completed its fourth new signing of the transfer window, bringing in French defender Maxime Estève (24) from Burnley for €25 million. The centre-back has signed a contract running until summer 2031 and will wear the number 3 jersey for the Bundesliga side.
What the Club Says
Sports director Marcel Schäfer (42) praised the signing:
"He brings a lot of what we were looking for in this position: size, athleticism, a strong left foot, courage in build-up play, and the ability to actively defend forward. Maxime thinks football offensively, is strong in duels, communicative, and brings a lot of energy to the pitch."
Schäfer added:
"At the same time, he is a natural leader. He talks a lot, organizes, takes responsibility, and is also a very clear, reflective type off the pitch. This exact mix of quality, personality, and mentality fits very well with RB. We are convinced that he can help our team immediately and take on an important role with us."
Estève's Path to Leipzig
Estève initially moved from Montpellier to Burnley on loan on February 1, 2024. His manager at the time was current Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany (40), under whom he immediately became a regular starter. According to reports, Kompany even attempted to bring Estève to Munich in summer 2025.
Why the Transfer Happened Now
Estève commented on his move:
"RB Leipzig stands for intense, courageous football, for development, and for great ambitions. That fits very well with me. The discussions with those in charge were very convincing. I felt that the club has a clear plan with me."
According to BILD information, Leipzig's leadership grew concerned that strong competition could derail the deal—and therefore moved to finalize it early. This timing is notable because the squad is currently considered too large. Originally, the club planned to sell one of its two centre-backs—Castello Lukeba (23) or El Chadaille Bitshiabu (21)—before making another move in the transfer market.
Source
BILD - SportWestern
Part of this Story
RB Leipzig Nears €25-32M Signing of Burnley Defender Maxime Estève