Melvin Michel Maxence Bard

Melvin Michel Maxence Bard is a French defender born in Écully on November 6, 2000. He developed with FC du Pays de L’Arbresle and Domtac FC before joining the Lyon academy in 2016. Bard progressed through Lyon’s youth teams and reserve side, signed his first professional contract in August 2019, and made his senior debut in a 4–0 victory over Nîmes later that year. After representing France at the Tokyo Olympic Games, he joined Nice on July 16, 2021. He established himself as a regular left-back despite competition for the position, and has remained with the club through successive managerial regimes. Bard reached his 100th appearance for Nice in a Coupe de France victory over Bordeaux in January 2024. In September 2024, he extended his Nice contract until 2028. Under Franck Haise, Bard has also operated as a left wing-back or left-sided centre-back, blending one-on-one defending with build-up play and crossing.