Lucas Digne is set to leave Aston Villa after Paris Saint-Germain reached a verbal agreement with the France international.
Fabrizio Romano reports that PSG have informed Villa of their intention to trigger the release clause in Digne’s contract after the World Cup. The fee will reportedly fall below €10m.
The 32-year-old has agreed to return to the club he represented between 2013 and 2016. PSG plan to use him as experienced competition for Nuno Mendes at left-back.
Digne signed a new Villa contract until 2028 last summer, but the release clause has left the club unable to demand a higher fee. His departure would remove another important player from Unai Emery’s squad during a difficult transfer window.
Villa must replace another proven starter
Digne made 182 appearances for Villa after joining from Everton in January 2022. He became a dependable part of Emery’s side and recorded four Premier League assists last season as the club finished fourth.
He also played 11 times during Villa’s Europa League-winning campaign. His delivery, experience and relationship with the left-sided attackers gave Emery a reliable option alongside Ian Maatsen.
TalkSPORT reports that PSG will activate Digne’s clause after France complete their World Cup campaign. The same report identifies former Brighton defender Pervis Estupiñán as Villa’s leading replacement option.
Digne remains with France ahead of their World Cup semi-final against Spain. ReadAstonVilla recently examined how his extended tournament run had already delayed Emery’s pre-season planning.
Villa now appear unlikely to welcome him back for the new campaign. His expected departure, combined with the uncertainty surrounding Youri Tielemans, increases the pressure on the recruitment team to act quickly.
A fee below €10m represents limited value for an established international with two years left on his contract. Villa may have little control over the price, but they must ensure Digne’s replacement arrives early enough to settle into Emery’s squad.
