Gabin Bernardeau is set to move from OGC Nice to Lorient for a fee of around €1 million, with an additional 12.5% sell-on clause included in the agreement, according to L’Équipe. The transfer will see the 20-year-old midfielder sign a four-year contract with Lorient and is expected to be finalized on Wednesday.
Bernardeau arrived at Nice from Le Mans, who were then playing in the National division, but struggled to establish himself in the first team during a difficult season for the club. He made a total of eight official appearances for Nice, accumulating 216 minutes of playing time. The move to Lorient offers Bernardeau the opportunity for more regular football and a fresh start in Ligue 1.
This transfer follows the departures of Jérémie Boga to Juventus for €5 million and Charles Vanhoutte to Feyenoord for €6 million, as Nice begin to reshape their squad. The club will receive a percentage of any future sale of Bernardeau, providing potential for further financial gain.
As part of the deal, Erwann Le Postec, Lorient’s assistant coach, will move in the opposite direction to join Nice. He will reunite with new Nice manager Olivier Pantaloni, who specifically requested Le Postec’s arrival as he begins his tenure on the French Riviera. This appointment suggests Pantaloni intends to build a strong coaching team as he looks to improve Nice’s fortunes. The move provides Lorient with a needed fee for a player who did not feature prominently, while Nice gains an assistant coach desired by their new manager.
