Lucas Digne’s PSG Transfer
As reportedly earlier in the week, Lucas Digne is reportedly heading back to Paris Saint-Germain after the European champions agreed to pay the €10m release clause in his Aston Villa contract. From a Villa point of view, it actually works out as a solid move, despite losing a top performer from last season.
PSG have informed Villa of their intention to trigger the clause, with personal terms on a three-year deal already in place. For Digne, it is a homecoming in more ways than one: after he came through the Lille academy, he played for PSG between 2013 and 2016, and leaves Villa Park as a European champion himself to join one.
Digne the Commuter
Digne has also lived in London throughout his time at Villa rather than in the Midlands, commuting in for training and matches, to allow his kids to go to a French-speaking school in London. So a move back to France certainly helps Digne’s family life in that respect.
He will ultimately operate as competition for Nuno Mendes rather than a guaranteed starter, but Luis Enrique and Luis Campos have promised him regular minutes rather than a place on the bench.
High Earner Off the Books
Villa signed Digne from Everton in 2022, and last season he made 32 Premier League appearances, plus 11 in the Europa League run, including the final itself. He was one of the more reliable, senior figures in a dressing room that went on to win the club’s first European trophy since 1982, and one of its higher earners too, reportedly on around £135k a week.
Around a £8m fee for that profile of player, who turns 33 in a few days, is as good as it gets for the club. It is Villa moving him on while there is still a buyer willing to pay something for him at all, although ironically Villa will collect roughly the same amount this week for Lewis Dobbin, a player who never made a senior appearance. A Europa League winner goes for a similar amount to a squad player who didn’t play.
Digne follows Youri Tielemans out of Villa Park inside a week, as Villa attempt to freshen up an aging squad within the limitations of their UEFA settlement.
Listen and Subscribe to the MOMS podcast on Spotify
There is a footballing cost to this that shouldn’t be waved away by the accounting. Digne was not a passenger in Villa’s rise. His delivery from the left, his composure in the biggest games of the season, and his experience in a triumphant Europa League campaign are not easily replaced by whichever left-back inherits the shirt.
Villa though already have cover in place: the 24-year-old Ian Maatsen had initially started ahead of Digne and was always seen as his natural successor. Also, Pervis Estupiñán’s name has also been linked as further depth, so there are few concerns in the position at this stage.
Get MOMS in your inbox every Friday, free. Sharp, funny, informative Villa writing for supporters who can spot the clickbait from the back of the Holte. No spam. Join the astonvilla.wtf newsletter →
Follow MOMS on Twitter/X & Facebook & Threads & Bluesky
Listen to the Podcast on Apple and Spotify