Lucas Digne became the latest Aston Villa recruit when he completed a switch from Everton.
The 28-year-old has played for some of Europe’s biggest names as well as forging a strong international career with France.
Here are five things to know about the new man…
1. His rise to the top was rapid
Digne was born in Meaux, a town situated an hour east of Paris. After spending his younger years with two local clubs, Lille snapped him up as a 12-year-old. Progress through the Academy ranks was swift, and when his first-team chance came in January 2012, he took it. Digne started 13 of the final 15 Ligue 1 matches in the 2011/12 campaign, helping Lille finish third and secure a Champions League berth. He featured in five Champions League group games the following season, confirming his reputation as one of the most talented young left-backs in the world.
2. He’s a serial winner
Digne brings an impressive medal collection with him to Villa Park. A dream move to Paris Saint Germain brought two Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France, a pair of Coupe de la Ligues and three Trophée des Champions. The honours kept coming in two years at Barcelona. A Supercopa de España came first, followed by successive Copa del Reys and a La Liga winners medal in 2017/18.
3. He was Everton’s chief creator
During three-and-a-half seasons at the Toffees, Digne proved to be one of the team’s most productive attacking outlets. His set-piece delivery and superb crossing ability saw the full-back register 19 assists during his time at Goodison Park. His impact was at its peak during the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, where he topped the club’s assist charts with seven, chances created with 46 and passes into the opposition box with 208. Since Digne's arrival in English football, the only defender to create more chances in the Premier League than him is Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold.
4. He’s a threat from free-kicks
An undisputed fact about Digne is that he possesses a wicked left foot. He scored six goals for Everton and most of them were spectacular. A long-range rocket against Burnley at Turf Moor came from open play, but the full-back also showed a prowess from dead ball situations. Look up his efforts against Watford in the Premier League and a spectacular strike versus Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup for reference.
5. He has international pedigree
The set-piece specialist has represented France at every level from Under-16 through to the senior side. A matter of months after winning the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Digne won his first senior cap in a friendly against the Netherlands in March 2014. As far as major tournaments go, the defender featured once in the 2014 World Cup and was part of Les Bleus’ Euro 2016 and 2020 squads. He also won the Nations League with his country in 2021.