Lucas Digne

Lucas Digne (French pronunciation: ​[lykɑ diɲ]; born 20 July 1993) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Premier League club Everton and the France national team.

Lucas Digne
Digne playing for Everton in July 2019
Personal information
Full name Lucas Digne[1]
Date of birth (1993-07-20) 20 July 1993[2]
Place of birth Meaux, France
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Left-back
Club information
Current team
 Everton
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 36 (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– Everton 83 (4)
National team‡
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 35 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:00, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:08, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

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 12 honours at Paris and Barcelona combined. He joined Everton in August 2018.

He won the 2013 World Cup with France under-20, and made his senior international debut in March 2014. He represented France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was a member of their squad for UEFA Euro 2016, where his nation reached the final.

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.

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.[7] He scored his first goal on 7 April, a penalty in a 5–0 home win over Lorient,[8] and two weeks later he added another to equalise in a 2–1 comeback victory at Bastia.[9]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 17 July 2013, Digne signed a five-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain,[10] on a fee believed to be around €15 million.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14] PSG ended the season with both the league and league cup titles, though Digne was back-up to Brazilian veteran Maxwell.[15]

Digne played the full 90 minutes in the 2014 Trophée des Champions, which PSG won 2–0 against Guingamp in Beijing.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] Against the same opponents on 12 February, he returned from injury to score from 30 metres in a 3–1 win,[20] and on 17 April he opened a 3–3 draw at Atalanta.[21] The team from Italy's capital came third in Serie A, and Digne declared that he wanted the move to be made permanent.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25] Barcelona won that cup, with Digne unused in the final on 27 May 2017, a 3–1 win over Alavés.[26]

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.[27]

Everton

Digne joined English club Everton on 1 August 2018, for a five-year deal on an initial fee of £18 million.[28] 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.[29] 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.[30] Digne made his first Premier League start for Everton four days later in a home game against Huddersfield Town, and assisted Dominic Calvert-Lewin's headed equaliser in a 1–1 draw.[31]

By the start of October, Digne had become Everton's first-choice left back, ahead of veteran Leighton Baines.[32] 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.[33] Sixteen days later he scored twice in a 5–1 win at Burnley, with a free kick and a 30-yard shot.[34] 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.[35] 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 Gana Gueye, the first time the award had been shared. [36] On 25 October 2020, Digne was sent off for the second time in his Everton career for a challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters during a 2–0 loss. [37] Following the game Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti described the red card as, "a joke" and said his team would appeal the decision. The appeal was successful, meaning Digne only missed Everton's next game, against Newcastle United before being available for selection again.

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.[15]

He was first called up for the senior side in February 2014, ahead of a friendly match against the Netherlands on 5 March.[38] He debuted in that match, as a half-time substitute for Patrice Evra in a 2–0 win at the Stade de France.[39]

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.[40] 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.[41]

Digne was chosen for the French squad that came runners-up on home soil at UEFA Euro 2016, but did not play.[42] He was put on standby for the squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[43]

Personal life

Digne was in Barcelona when it was hit by a terror attack on 17 August 2017, and gave first aid to the victims.[44][45][46]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 6 February 2021[47]
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 1601010—180
2012–13 Ligue 1 33220207[lower-alpha 1]1—443
Total 492303071—623
Paris Saint-Germain 2013–14 Ligue 1 15010202[lower-alpha 1]0—200
2014–15 Ligue 1 15050201[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0240
Total 30060403010440
Roma (loan) 2015–16 Serie A 33310—8[lower-alpha 1]000423
Barcelona 2016–17 La Liga 17031—4[lower-alpha 1]02[lower-alpha 3]0261
2017–18 La Liga 12040—3[lower-alpha 1]11[lower-alpha 3]0201
Total 29071—7130462
Everton 2018–19 Premier League 3541010——374
2019–20 Premier League 3501031——391
2020–21 Premier League 1301030——170
Total 8343071——935
Career total 22492011412524028613
  1. All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  3. All appearances in Supercopa de España

International
As of match played 17 November 2020[48]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
France 201480
201520
201650
201750
201830
201970
202050
Total350

Honours

Paris Saint-Germain

Barcelona

France U20

Individual

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. 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.
  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. "Ten-man Lille ease to victory". Sky Sports. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  8. "Kalou at the double for Lille". Sky Sports. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  9. "Lille fight back at Bastia". Sky Sports. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  10. "LUCAS DIGNE SIGNS FIVE-YEAR DEAL WITH PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  11. "Paris Saint-Germain seals Digne deal". Goal.com. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  12. "Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 Girondins de Bordeaux". LFP. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  13. "Digne to get his chance in Bordeaux?". Ligue 1. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. "Digne et Ongenda titulaires avec le PSG à Bordeaux" [Digne and Ongenda starters for PSG at Bordeaux]. Le Parisien (in French). 13 September 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  15. 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.
  16. Maltret, Laurent (2 August 2014). "Paris brille à Pékin". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  17. "Roma complete signing of Lucas Digne". A.S. Roma. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  18. "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. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  19. "Roma 5 Carpi 1: Garcia's five-star men leave new boys winless". beIN Sports. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  20. "Le superbe but de Lucas Digne (AS Roma) face à Carpi" [Lucas Digne's (AS Roma) superb goal against Carpi]. L'Équipe (in French). 12 February 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  21. "10 facts and figures on Atalanta 3–3 Roma". AS Roma. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  22. Rodden, Mark (17 May 2016). "Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Digne wants permanent Roma move". ESPN FC. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  23. "Lucas Digne becomes FC Barcelona's latest signing". FC Barcelona. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  24. Mazariegos, Luis (15 August 2016). "Barcelona's Lucas Digne Impresses on Debut vs. Sevilla". Barca Blaugranes. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  25. "Barcelona 7–0 Hércules". BBC Sport. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  26. "Barcelona 3–1 Alaves". BBC Sport. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  27. 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.
  28. "Lucas Digne: Everton sign full-back from Barcelona for £18m". BBC Sport. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  29. Hafez, Shamoon (11 August 2018). "Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  30. "Lucas Digne shines on full debut for Everton". BBC Sport. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  31. "Everton maintain their unbeaten start". BBC Sport. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  32. 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.
  33. "Lucas Digne first Everton goal". BBC Sport. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  34. "Lucas Digne at the double". BBC Sport. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  35. Begley, Emlyn (29 January 2019). "Huddersfield Town 0–1 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  36. "Digne Honoured After Scooping Dixies Double | Everton Football Club". www.evertonfc.com. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  37. "everton vs southampton - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  38. 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.
  39. "International friendly: France ease to a 2–0 win over Holland in Paris". Sky Sports. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  40. "France squad for 2014 World Cup: the 23 chosen by Didier Deschamps". The Guardian. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  41. Cruise, Ian (25 June 2014). "Ecuador 0–0 France: Antonio Valencia sees red as South Americans bow out". Talksport. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  42. "Euro 2016: Leicester's N'Golo Kante in France squad". BBC Sport. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  43. 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.
  44. "Barcelona's Lucas Digne aided wounded after deadly attack – sources". ESPN FC. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  45. "Digne gave first aid to Barcelona attack victims". Marca. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  46. 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.
  47. "L. Digne: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  48. "Digne, Lucas". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
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