​Gabin Bernardeau, age 20, has completed a move from OGC Nice to FC Lorient. The France youth international had found first-team opportunities limited at Nice after joining the club from Le Mans the previous summer. Bernardeau’s journey began when he joined Nice on a free transfer from his formative club Le Mans FC last year. While he was with Le Mans in Ligue 3 (formerly National 1), he made 30 league appearances in the prior season, scoring three goals and delivering eight assists.
After arriving at the Allianz Riviera on a free transfer last summer, the midfielder managed only eight appearances across all competitions for Nice. He has now pivoted again, this time to Lorient, who will be led next season by Alexandre Dujeux. The financial details of the deal have not been officially disclosed, but media outlets have suggested a transfer fee in the region of €1 million. Bernardeau has signed a four-year contract with Les Merlus, tying him to Lorient through the 2029 season.
Meanwhile, Laurent Abergel has departed Lorient and moved in the opposite direction, with the former Lorient midfielder having already been unveiled as a Nice player. This latest transfer activity shapes a notable reshuffle in the midfields of both clubs ahead of the new campaign. The swap underscores Lorient’s ambition to bolster their options in midfield, while Nice continue to recalibrate their squad structure under their ongoing plans for development and competition on multiple fronts. Bernardeau’s arrival at Lorient adds youth and potential to a crew seeking to enhance its creative and ball-playing capabilities in the central areas.
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