(Football news) Lucas Digne joins Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa for a reported fee of worth up to £25m. The 28-year-old fell out of favour at Everton this season under manager Rafael Benitez, who had asked to leave the club. This is Villa’s second big name signing of the season after purchasing Philip Coutinho on loan from Barcelona, the coup for Lucas Digne is a big one as several clubs registered their interest in the left-back, including Newcastle United, Chelsea but Villa were ultimately successful in securing his signature.
Everton had signed Digne from Barcelona in the summer of 2018 for £18m under former manager Marco Silva. He then went on to make 127 appearances for the Toffees, scoring six goals in his tenure. Digne made 15 appearances for Everton this season but did not play since 1 December. For Steven Gerard, Lucas Digne is an ideal player in a system that he is trying to implement in the club as stats show that since 2018, he has recorded more assists than any other Everton player and also has led his team in assists and chances created last season. Digne has over 40 caps for France and has title winning experience with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. It is his attacking side of the game that the Aston Villa supporters will be looking forward to. Digne at the age of 28 is in his prime and at a level where he ranks among the best full-backs in the Premier League as since the start of last season only Liverpool pair Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have created more clear-cut chances among the Premier League defenders.
Gerrard said: "When Lucas became available we jumped at the opportunity to bring him to the club.To sign a player of his pedigree and quality in the January window is a great addition to our squad and his arrival excites me and everyone associated with Aston Villa."
Digne said "It was the main factor. I came here for the manager, I had a very good meeting with him and we spoke a couple of times during this month. I feel his desire to win, to show his football as a manager — the attacking football, the possession. I feel it's what I want and what I want to show to the fans."
This move also sees Anwar El Ghazi go in the opposite direction as he will join Everton on a 6 month loan. Anwar El Ghazi becomes Everton's third signing of the January transfer window after Mykolenko and Callum Patterson. The winger leaves Aston Villa having made just nine league appearances this season as El Ghazi will wear number 34 shirt to tribute his friend Abdelhak Nouri as he will be available for the trip to Norwich this week. El Ghazi ever since Steven Gerrard arrived had only made one appearance off the bench and the added competition for places has only intensified with the arrival of Philippe Coutinho. On top of that this season his stats have not been upto the mark as the 26-year-old had just scored just one goal in nine Premier League appearances this season.
El Ghazi said: "I'm really excited. Everton is a big club, I cannot wait to get started. I've met a few fans already and it's great to see how people live for the club. It's basically their religion. You just want to give it your all and show them what you can do to make them happy.I just want to focus on working hard, getting into the team, fighting for my place and, with the boys, to get Everton where it belongs – that is much higher up the table. We have a really good squad. I've played at Goodison Park a few times now and it's a beautiful stadium.”
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He added by saying "It's a bit different than other stadiums and that's what makes it quite unique. I'm really looking forward to playing there for Everton. We have a really strong squad. The wingers are doing well and have a lot of quality. It will be hard work but competition with others is good and that is how you achieve great things. I will work hard and give everything I have. That is the least you can expect from a player. That is what I will start with and from there hopefully, I will be able to score goals and give assists."
