Sohaib Naïr: Saint-Étienne Sign €1.7m Centre-Back from Guingamp in Ligue 2 Deal

Sohaib Naïr has completed a permanent move from Guingamp to Saint-Étienne in a confirmed Ligue 2 transfer worth €1.70m, with the Algerian-French centre-back joining his new club on 2026-07-01. The 24-year-old defender, valued at €2.00m, has been registered as Saint-Étienne’s new number 18 and arrives as a full member of the first-team squad.

The move keeps Naïr in France’s second tier, with both Guingamp and Saint-Étienne competing in Ligue 2, and ensures he will not become a free agent this summer. His contract with Saint-Étienne is active from 2026-07-01, though the precise end date has not been disclosed. The confirmed fee of €1.70m comes in just below his current market valuation, underlining Saint-Étienne’s belief that there is still upside in his development and resale potential.

Naïr joins as a right-footed central defender, standing 1.86m tall and offering a blend of physical presence and mobility at the heart of the back line. Born in Saint-Denis on 23 Apr 2002, he represents both Algeria and France at nationality level, and his dual background has contributed to a growing profile among supporters and media in both countries. His current registration lists AS Saint-Étienne as his national-team affiliation, further embedding him in the club’s sporting structure.

Having been on the books at Guingamp before the switch, Naïr’s experience has been shaped largely in the environment of French professional football and specifically Ligue 2. The transfer keeps him in a familiar league context while placing him at a historically larger club with ambitious expectations. That change in sporting pressure is expected to be one of the key tests in the next phase of his career.

Saint-Étienne now add a defender whose market value is aligned with the upper mid-range for Ligue 2 centre-backs of his age bracket. For Guingamp, the sale converts defensive depth into a solid transfer income, while for Naïr, the move represents a step that could raise his visibility, particularly if Saint-Étienne challenge at the top end of the table or push for promotion.

Algerian followers are likely to view the move as another sign of a growing diaspora presence in European professional football, even though Naïr continues to play in France rather than in Algeria’s domestic leagues. French-based supporters, meanwhile, will see a locally born defender consolidating his career within one of the country’s most storied clubs. With his contract at Saint-Étienne now underway from 2026-07-01, the coming seasons will determine whether this transfer establishes Naïr as a mainstay in Ligue 2 or a player capable of climbing even higher in European football.