Marten-Chris Paalberg joins ASSE

Born in Pärnu, a seaside resort in southwestern Estonia, Marten-Chris Paalberg kicked his first balls in his family's garden. Under the watchful eye of his mother, Katri, and his father, Andres, the young boy, born in 2008, soon showed clear potential. At the age of 6, he naturally joined the major club in his hometown.

With Pärnu Vaprus, Marten-Chris Paalberg quickly rose through the ranks. First, he progressed through the youth ranks, while also beginning his international career at the age of 14 with the Estonian U15 team. But the young striker's career then took off prematurely. On May 19, 2024, at just 15 years old, the striker made his debut in the top flight. In the Cup, he took advantage of the August rounds to score his first goals with the first team, then delivered his first assist in September against FCI Levadia, this time in the league. He finally scored his first goal in the Premium Liiga in May 2025 against JK Tammeka.

Scored from the right in an ideal position, this first goal in the top flight got Marten-Chris Paalberg's tally underway. In total, in his first full season and at just 17 years of age, the striker scored 15 goals, becoming the youngest forward to score a hat trick in the Estonian league. Performing well for his club, but also for the youth teams, he caught the eye of Jürgen Henn, Estonia's coach, who gave him his first cap with the senior team last October against Moldova, before playing him in the match against Norway and then starting him against Cyprus.

At 17 years of age and standing 6'2", Marten-Chris Paalberg has now joined the Robert-Herbin Sports Center to continue his development in the green jersey, where he has signed until 2028. 

Marten-Chris Paalberg: "It's a great honor to join such a prestigious club as AS Saint-Étienne. I've dreamed of playing abroad since I was a little boy. Now, I can't wait to start working here to continue my development and learn more about top-level soccer. I'm really looking forward to playing in the green jersey, I dream of meeting the fans, and I will do my best every day to meet the club's objectives!"


Loïc Perrin, Sporting Director of ASSE: "Although his athletic development is not yet complete, Marten-Chris already has significant physical abilities for his age. He was already playing in the top division in his country and is used to scoring goals. He is a striker who works for the team, who makes defensive runs and puts in the effort. He fits in with our club's mindset. He still has some steps to take. We will take our time with him and support him."