Aston Villa have confirmed that Lucas Digne has penned a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2028.
The 32-year-old arrived from Everton in January 2022 and has since gone on to make 138 appearances for the club, establishing himself as a pivotal figure in the side under Unai Emery.
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Along with his defensive work, he has contributed four goals and 17 assists in that time, and he will remain a key part of our plans moving forward.
As per the club’s statement, the Frenchman has put pen to paper on a new deal that will potentially keep him at Villa Park until 2028, and so he will remain locked in a battle with Ian Maatsen for the starting role at left-back for the upcoming campaign.
With Villa looking to compete on multiple fronts again this season across domestic competitions and the Europa League, Emery will be delighted to hold on to another important piece in the group, and it’s hoped that between them, they are able to continue to provide us with quality on the left side as the Villa boss has previously stressed his desire to have two quality options for every role.
Meanwhile, The Athletic report that Digne has accepted a salary reduction in order for the deal to happen, as it comes at a time when Villa are looking to manage the wage bill over the next two summers in order to comply with UEFA’s SCR rules.
In turn, aside from his quality, reliability, leadership and influence in the side, it’s a hugely commendable move from the French international as it helps the club in its bid to continue to be competitive while remaining on the right side of the relevant financial regulations.
It’s likely that the security of an extended deal until 2028 would have been a key factor in talks as well, and so it’s hoped that both sides are happy with the outcome, and naturally the focus moving forward will be on continuing to perform at a high level, and making a positive contribution in our pursuit of silverware and success this season and beyond.
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