Maxime Bernauer

Maxime Bernauer was a regular rather than ever-present for Saint-Etienne in Ligue 2, making 13 league appearances and starting 12. He did not score, which fits a central defender profile, while two yellow cards and one red point to a defender used in competitive minutes rather than a fringe squad listing. He also added one Coupe de France appearance and three Ligue 1 play-off outings.

Bernauer’s route has been a steady climb rather than a straight line. He moved from Rennes to Le Mans, then to Paris FC, earned a switch to Dinamo Zagreb, and returned to France with Saint-Etienne. That path suggests a defender who built his value outside the top tier before moving into bigger environments, rather than a player developed as an immediate elite-level prospect.

The transfer record shows measured investment at each step. Le Mans took him from Rennes on an undisclosed deal, Paris FC paid €180,000, and Dinamo Zagreb then committed €1.00m. Saint-Etienne first borrowed him on loan in February 2025 before making the move permanent for another €1.00m, which suggests the loan was treated as a trial that justified a permanent fee.