Which Bundesliga club signed Maxime Estève from Burnley in July 2026?

RB Leipzig signed Maxime Estève from Burnley in July 2026. The move sent the French centre-back from English football to one of Germany’s leading development-focused clubs.

Estève was born in Montpellier on 26 May 2002 and came through Montpellier’s academy. He made his Ligue 1 debut against Marseille in August 2021 and established himself as a first-team defender before moving to England.

Burnley initially brought Estève in on loan in February 2024, with an option to buy. The English club made the transfer permanent that May, and he went on to accumulate substantial league experience across the Championship and Premier League. His height—1.93 metres—made him a distinctive presence in central defence.

On 17 July 2026, Estève joined RB Leipzig on a five-year deal. The answer is not Borussia Dortmund or another Bundesliga rival: Leipzig is the club named in the transfer record. Estève has also represented France at under-20, under-21 and Olympic levels, although he withdrew from the 2024 Olympic squad after injury concerns.