Lucas Digne

Lucas Digne

Digne playing for Everton in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Lucas Digne [1]
Date of birth	(1993-07-20) 20 July 1993 (age 31) [2]
Place of birth	Meaux, France
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [2]
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Aston Villa
Number	12
Youth career
1999–2002	Mareuil-sur-Ourcq
2002–2005	Crépy-en-Valois
2005–2010	Lille
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2011	Lille B	35	(1)
2011–2013	Lille	49	(2)
2013–2016	Paris Saint-Germain	30	(0)
2015–2016	→ Roma (loan)	33	(3)
2016–2018	Barcelona	29	(0)
2018–2022	Everton	113	(4)
2022–	Aston Villa	93	(2)
International career‡
2008–2009	France U16	15	(0)
2009–2010	France U17	15	(0)
2010–2011	France U18	11	(0)
2011–2012	France U19	12	(1)
2013	France U20	12	(2)
2013	France U21	7	(0)
2014–	France	50	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   France UEFA Nations League Winner 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 2013 UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:40, 21 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024

Lucas Digne (born 20 July 1993) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Aston Villa and the France national team.

Digne began his career at Lille before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2013. After spending a season on loan at Roma, he moved to Barcelona in July 2016. Despite not playing regularly at either club, he won twelve honours at Paris and Barcelona combined. He joined Everton in August 2018, making 113 appearances before transferring to Aston Villa in January 2022.

Digne won the 2013 World Cup with the France under-20 team, and made his senior international debut in March 2014. He represented France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 (where his nation reached the final), and Euro 2020.

Club career

Lille

Digne playing for Lille in 2012

Born in Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, Digne finished his development at Lille, signing his first professional contract on 27 July 2010 for three years. ^[3] Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Digne was promoted to the senior team permanently and assigned the number 3 shirt. He made his professional debut on 26 October 2011 in a 6–1 victory over Sedan in the last 16 of the Coupe de la Ligue. ^[4]

In January 2012, Digne extended his contract until 2016. ^[5] On 28 January, he made his Ligue 1 debut at the Stadium Nord Lille Metropole, playing the final two minutes of a 3–0 win over Saint-Étienne. ^[6] He totalled 16 league appearances as the defending champions came third. ^[7]

Digne was a regular in the 2012–13 season. On 23 February 2013, having given Lille the lead in a 3–1 win at Ajaccio when his cross was deflected in by Yoann Poulard, he was sent off after an hour for a foul on Matthieu Chalmé. ^[8] He scored his first goal on 7 April, a penalty in a 5–0 home win over Lorient, ^[9] and two weeks later he added another to equalise in a 2–1 comeback victory at Bastia. ^[10]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 17 July 2013, Digne signed a five-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, ^[11] on a fee believed to be around €15 million. ^[12] On 3 August, he was an unused substitute as they won the 2013 Trophée des Champions with a 2–1 victory over Bordeaux in Gabon. ^[13] He did not make his debut until 13 September in a 2–0 win at the same opponents, as manager Laurent Blanc rotated his squad ahead of the UEFA Champions League. ^{[14] [15]} PSG ended the season with both the league and league cup titles, though Digne was back-up to Brazilian veteran Maxwell. ^[16]

Digne played the full 90 minutes in the 2014 Trophée des Champions, which PSG won 2–0 against Guingamp in Beijing. ^[17] The Parisians won all four domestic honours in 2014–15, with Digne an unused substitute in their Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue final victories.

Roma (loan)

On 26 August 2015, Italian Serie A club Roma signed Digne from PSG on a season-long loan deal for €2.5 million, with the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season. ^[18] He made his debut five days later, playing the entire match in a 2–1 victory against title holders Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico. He blew a sarcastic kiss at opponent Roberto Pereyra and advised him to check the scoreboard, a gesture likened to one by Roma captain Francesco Totti to Igor Tudor of the same rival in a 4–0 win in February 2004. ^[19]

Digne scored his first goal for the Giallorossi on 26 September with a close-range header in a 5–1 home win over Carpi, having earlier assisted Kostas Manolas in opening his account for the club. ^[20] Against the same opponents on 12 February, he returned from injury to score from 30 metres in a 3–1 win, ^[21] and on 17 April he opened a 3–3 draw at Atalanta. ^[22] The team from Italy's capital came third in Serie A, and Digne declared that he wanted the move to be made permanent. ^[23]

Barcelona

Digne lining up for Barcelona in 2016

On 13 July 2016, Digne joined Spanish La Liga side Barcelona on a five-year deal. The fee was €16.5 million (£13.8 million), with the possibility to increase to €20.5 million (£17.1 million), according to individual and team results. ^[24] On 14 August 2016, Digne made his first appearance for Barcelona in a 0–2 victory against Sevilla in the 2016 Supercopa de España first leg, as a 27th-minute substitute for compatriot Jérémy Mathieu. ^[25]

He played 26 total games in his first season at the Camp Nou, scoring once in a 7–0 (8–1 aggregate) win over Segunda División B club Hércules in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey on 21 December 2016. ^[26] Barcelona won that cup, with Digne unused in the final on 27 May 2017, a 3–1 win over Alavés. ^[27]

Digne played 20 times in 2017–18 as Barcelona won the league and cup double under new manager Ernesto Valverde. On 18 October 2017, he scored from Lionel Messi's assist in a 3–1 home win over Olympiacos in the Champions League group stage. ^[28]

Everton

Digne joined English club Everton on 1 August 2018, for a five-year deal on an initial fee of £18 million. ^[29] He made his debut ten days later, replacing double goalscorer and fellow debutant Richarlison for the last four minutes of a 2–2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers. ^[30] On his first start on 29 August in a 3–1 EFL Cup win against Rotherham United, he assisted a goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. ^[31] Digne made his first Premier League start for Everton four days later in a home game against Huddersfield Town, and assisted Calvert-Lewin's headed equaliser in a 1–1 draw. ^[32]

By the start of October, Digne had become Everton's first-choice left back, ahead of veteran Leighton Baines. ^[33] He scored his first goal for the club on 10 December, in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of a match against Watford, curling in a free kick for a 2–2 draw. ^[34] Sixteen days later he scored twice in a 5–1 win at Burnley, with a free kick and a 30-yard shot. ^[35] On 29 January 2019 he was sent off in a 1–0 win at Huddersfield for denying Adama Diakhaby a goalscoring opportunity with a foul. ^[36] Digne's first season at Everton concluded with individual honours as he was named the Club’s Player of the Season, as voted for by supporters, and Players' Player of the Season alongside midfielder Idrissa Gueye, the first time the award had been shared. ^[37]

On 25 October 2020, Digne was sent off in a 2–0 loss at Southampton for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters. Referee Kevin Friend recorded it as "serious foul play" which is punished with a three-game suspension, but the ban was reduced to one match on appeal. ^[38]

In January 2022, Digne told Everton manager Rafael Benítez that he no longer wanted to play for the club and wished to leave. He had argued with the manager over tactics. ^[39]

Aston Villa

On 13 January 2022, Aston Villa announced the signing of Digne from Everton for a fee of £25 million, with a contract until 2026. ^{[40] [41]} He made his debut two days later, in a 2–2 home draw with Manchester United. ^[42] On 23 August, Digne scored his first goal for the team in a 4–1 victory at Bolton Wanderers in the second round of the EFL Cup. ^[43]

On 21 September 2022, Digne suffered a stress fracture to his ankle whilst on international duty with France, ^[44] returning on 29 October as a second-half substitute in a 4–0 defeat to Newcastle United. ^[45] On 6 November, Digne scored his first league goal for Aston Villa in a 3–1 home victory over Manchester United, in Unai Emery's first game as manager. ^[46]

Digne assisted three goals on 23 August 2023 in a 5–0 win at Hibernian in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier. This came amidst doubts over his future due to Emery's preference for the more attacking Àlex Moreno as left back. ^[47] A month later he scored in the group stage of the competition, albeit in a 3–2 loss at Legia Warsaw. ^[48]

On 2 March 2024, Digne scored his second league goal for Aston Villa, a late winner scored in a 3–2 victory against Luton Town. ^[49]

International career

Digne with the France U19s in 2012

Digne was a French youth international and represented his nation at the U16, U17, and U18 levels. At the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, he played every match as France won the title. ^[16]

He was first called up for the senior side in February 2014, ahead of a friendly match against the Netherlands on 5 March. ^[50] He debuted in that match, as a half-time substitute for Patrice Evra in a 2–0 win at the Stade de France. ^[51]

In June, manager Didier Deschamps named Digne as one of 23 members of the French squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, wearing the number 17 shirt. ^[52] His one appearance for the eventual quarter-finalists was the third group game against Ecuador, in which he suffered a foul that earned the Ecuadorian captain Antonio Valencia a straight red card. ^[53]

Digne was chosen for the French squad that came runners-up on home soil at UEFA Euro 2016, but did not play. ^[54] He was put on standby for the squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. ^[55]

At UEFA Euro 2020, Digne came on at half time in the 2–2 group draw with Portugal due to Lucas Hernandez's injury. Minutes later, he too withdrew due to a thigh muscle injury. ^[56] The injuries at left back forced Deschamps to use an untested 3–5–2 formation in the last 16 against Switzerland, which France lost. ^[57]

Deschamps did not pick Digne for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, despite picking nine defenders for his squad. He said that he wanted to choose versatile defenders who could play central and wide positions. ^[58]

Personal life

On 27 December 2014, Digne married his girlfriend Tiziri, whom he met while both were in school. ^[59] The couple have a son and a daughter. ^[60]

Digne was in Barcelona when it was hit by a terror attack on 17 August 2017, and gave first aid to the victims. ^{[61] [62] [63]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 December 2024 ^[64]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lille	2011–12	Ligue 1	16	0	1	0	1	0	—		—		18	0
	2012–13	Ligue 1	33	2	2	0	2	0	7 [a]	1	—		44	3
	Total		49	2	3	0	3	0	7	1	—		62	3
Paris Saint-Germain	2013–14	Ligue 1	15	0	1	0	2	0	2 [a]	0	—		20	0
	2014–15	Ligue 1	15	0	5	0	2	0	1 [a]	0	1 [b]	0	24	0
	Total		30	0	6	0	4	0	3	0	1	0	44	0
Roma (loan)	2015–16	Serie A	33	3	1	0	—		8 [a]	0	0	0	42	3
Barcelona	2016–17	La Liga	17	0	3	1	—		4 [a]	0	2 [c]	0	26	1
	2017–18	La Liga	12	0	4	0	—		3 [a]	1	1 [c]	0	20	1
	Total		29	0	7	1	—		7	1	3	0	46	2
Everton	2018–19	Premier League	35	4	1	0	1	0	—		—		37	4
	2019–20	Premier League	35	0	1	0	3	1	—		—		39	1
	2020–21	Premier League	30	0	3	0	3	0	—		—		36	0
	2021–22	Premier League	13	0	0	0	2	1	—		—		15	1
	Total		113	4	5	0	9	2	—		—		127	6
Aston Villa	2021–22	Premier League	16	0	—		—		—		—		16	0
	2022–23	Premier League	28	1	1	0	2	1	—		—		31	2
	2023–24	Premier League	33	1	0	0	1	0	12 [d]	1	—		46	2
	2024–25	Premier League	17	0	0	0	0	0	4 [a]	0	—		21	0
	Total		94	2	1	0	3	1	16	1	—		113	4
Career total			348	11	23	1	19	3	41	3	4	0	434	18

1. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
2. Appearance in Trophée des Champions
3. Appearances in Supercopa de España
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 17 November 2024 ^[65]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
France	2014	8	0
	2015	2	0
	2016	5	0
	2017	5	0
	2018	3	0
	2019	7	0
	2020	5	0
	2021	8	0
	2022	3	0
	2023	0	0
	2024	4	0
Total		50	0

Honours

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2013–14, 2014–15 ^[64]
• Coupe de France: 2014–15 ^[64]
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2013–14, 2014–15 ^[64]
• Trophée des Champions: 2013, 2014, 2015 ^[64]

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2017–18 ^[64]
• Copa del Rey: 2016–17, 2017–18 ^[64]
• Supercopa de España: 2016 ^[64]

France U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2013 ^{[ citation needed ]}

France

• UEFA Nations League: 2020–21 ^[66]
• UEFA Euro runner-up: 2016

Individual

• Everton Players' Player of the Season: 2018–19 (shared with Idrissa Gueye) ^[67]

References

1. "Acta del Partido celebrado el 26 de agosto de 2017, en Vitoria-Gasteiz" [Minutes of the Match held on 26 August 2017, in Vitoria-Gasteiz] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
2. "Lucas Digne: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
3. "Digne et le LOSC liés jusqu'en 2013". Lille OSC (in French). 27 July 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2010.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
4. "Lille v. Sedan Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 6 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
5. "Lucas Digne prolonge à Lille" [Lucas Digne prolongs at Lille]. Le Figaro (in French). 10 January 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
6. "Les Dogues passent au vert !" [The Dogues go at the green!] (in Spanish). Lille OSC. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
7. "OSC Lille 2011-12". Skladyfutbol.pl. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
8. "Ten-man Lille ease to victory". Sky Sports. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
9. "Kalou at the double for Lille". Sky Sports. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
10. "Lille fight back at Bastia". Sky Sports. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
11. "LUCAS DIGNE SIGNS FIVE-YEAR DEAL WITH PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
12. "Paris Saint-Germain seals Digne deal". Goal.com. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
13. "Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 Girondins de Bordeaux". LFP. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
14. "Digne to get his chance in Bordeaux?". Ligue 1. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
15. "Digne et Ongenda titulaires avec le PSG à Bordeaux" [Digne and Ongenda starters for PSG at Bordeaux]. Le Parisien (in French). 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
16. Sehdev, Aman (28 May 2014). "Meet the French left-back set to make Patrice Evra sweat for his World Cup place". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
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19. "Roma, Digne come Totti: sfottò alla Juve per il risultato" [Roma, Digne like Totti: teased Juventus for the result] (in Italian). Sky Sports. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
20. "Roma 5 Carpi 1: Garcia's five-star men leave new boys winless". beIN Sports. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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22. "10 facts and figures on Atalanta 3–3 Roma". AS Roma. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
23. Rodden, Mark (17 May 2016). "Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Digne wants permanent Roma move". ESPN FC. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
24. "Lucas Digne becomes FC Barcelona's latest signing". FC Barcelona. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
25. Mazariegos, Luis (15 August 2016). "Barcelona's Lucas Digne Impresses on Debut vs. Sevilla". Barca Blaugranes. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
26. "Barcelona 7–0 Hércules". BBC Sport. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
27. "Barcelona 3–1 Alaves". BBC Sport. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
28. Unwin, Will (19 October 2017). "Barcelona 3–1 Olympiakos: Lionel Messi scores 100th European goal as Gerard Pique sees red". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
29. "Lucas Digne: Everton sign full-back from Barcelona for £18m". BBC Sport. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
30. Hafez, Shamoon (11 August 2018). "Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
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33. Jones, Adam (5 October 2018). "How Lucas Digne has firmly cemented his place in Everton's first team ahead of Leighton Baines". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
34. "Lucas Digne first Everton goal". BBC Sport. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
35. "Lucas Digne at the double". BBC Sport. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
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39. "Lucas Digne: Everton defender wants to leave, says boss Rafael Benitez". BBC Sport. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
40. "Villa announce Lucas Digne signing". Aston Villa F.C. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
41. "Digne joins Aston Villa from Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
42. Ramsdale, Ben (15 January 2022). "Aston Villa player ratings vs Manchester United: Coutinho shines on Villa debut". Birmingham World. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
43. Poole, Harry (23 August 2022). "Bolton Wanderers 1–4 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
44. Pawley, Luke (21 September 2022). "Aston Villa dealt huge injury blow as Lucas Digne suffers 'possible fracture'". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
45. Gault, Matt (29 October 2022). "Wilson scores twice as Newcastle thrash Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
46. Rose, Gary (6 November 2022). "Aston Villa 3–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
47. Tanswell, Jacob (24 August 2023). "Lucas Digne's hat-trick of assists at Hibs was a timely reminder of his capabilities". The Athletic. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
48. Vurley, Callum (21 September 2023). "Aston Villa's return to Europe saw them dealt crushing defeat in five-goal thriller including Lucas Digne screamer". Talksport. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
49. Begley, Emlyn (2 March 2024). "Luton Town 2–3 Aston Villa". BBC Sport.
50. Absalon, Julien (27 February 2014). "Équipe de France : Digne et Griezmann retenus pour affronter les Pays-Bas" [France team: Digne and Griezmann retained to face the Netherlands] (in French). RTL. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
51. "International friendly: France ease to a 2–0 win over Holland in Paris". Sky Sports. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
52. "France squad for 2014 World Cup: the 23 chosen by Didier Deschamps". The Guardian. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
53. Cruise, Ian (25 June 2014). "Ecuador 0–0 France: Antonio Valencia sees red as South Americans bow out". Talksport. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
54. "Euro 2016: Leicester's N'Golo Kante in France squad". BBC Sport. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
55. Benson, Michael (17 May 2018). "World Cup 2018: Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City stars included in France's squad for finals". Talksport. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
56. Jones, Adam (24 June 2021). "France confirm 'very complicated' injury to Everton defender Lucas Digne". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
57. "Tactical confusion and Mbappe missing in action – what went wrong for France?". BT Sport. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
58. Bayliss, Jake (10 November 2022). "France boss Didier Deschamps names two reasons for Lucas Digne World Cup omission". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
59. Guell, Nicolas (28 December 2014). "Lucas Digne (PSG) s'est marié : Le footballeur a épousé sa belle Tiziri". Purepeople.
60. Marèbe, Wendy (4 May 2019). "Lucas Digne papa : Sa femme Tiziri raconte son accouchement difficile". purepeople.
61. "Barcelona's Lucas Digne aided wounded after deadly attack – sources". ESPN FC. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
62. "Digne gave first aid to Barcelona attack victims". Marca. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
63. Bartlett, Evan (22 August 2017). "Barcelona defender Lucas Digne 'helped terror attack victims with water bottles and homemade tourniquets'". The Independent. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
64. "L. Digne: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
65. "Digne, Lucas". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
66. "France beat Spain to win Nations League". UEFA. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
67. "Lucas Digne named Everton Player of the Season, shares Players' Player award with Idrissa Gueye". SB Nation. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.

External links

• Lucas Digne at Aston Villa F.C.
• Lucas Digne at Premier League
• Lucas Digne at the French Football Federation (in French)
• Lucas Digne – UEFA competition record ( archive ) 
• Lucas Digne – FIFA competition record (archived)