Lucas Digne is close to returning to Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisian club has activated the release clause included in the defender’s contract with Aston Villa and will pay almost ten million euros for him. The French representative will undergo medical tests, after which he should sign a three-year contract.

The 33-year-old’s transfer is one of the most unexpected moves of the summer window. PSG decided to sign an experienced left defender after the end of the World Cup.

The clause opened the way to the transfer

Digne’s contract with Aston Villa included a provision allowing him to be acquired for less than ten million euros. The Parisians decided to take advantage of this opportunity and formally activated the clause.

The English club allegedly knew about PSG’s plans in advance. The French team announced that they would take specific actions after the end of the World Cup, and they finally implemented this intention.

Medical tests and a three-year contract

There are still standard formalities left to close the operation. Digne is to appear for tests, and after passing them successfully, he will join the new club for three seasons.

The length of the contract shows that PSG does not treat him only as a short-term addition to the squad. The defender is expected to bring experience and immediately increase competition on the left side of the defense.

Back to Paris

For the French representative, it will be a return to a well-known environment. Digne previously played for Paris Saint-Germain before continuing his career in other European leagues.

After years spent outside France, he can wear the shirt of the Parisian team again. This time he returns as a much more experienced player, with many seasons at the highest level behind him.

An important role during the World Cup

The 33-year-old was the main left defender of the French national team at the last World Cup. He regularly appeared in the starting line-up and was one of the most frequently used players in his position.

However, the tournament was not without mistakes. In the semi-final against Spain, he conceded a penalty kick, which had a negative impact on the evaluation of his performance.

The end of a long stay at Aston Villa

Digne will leave Birmingham after four and a half years. During this time, he remained an important figure in the team and played regularly in the Premier League.

Last season he played 44 games in all competitions. He recorded seven assists, confirming that he can still be valuable also in offensive activities.

PSG focuses on experience

Signing the Frenchman gives the Parisians a player who knows well the realities of Ligue 1, European cups and playing at the national team level. With a relatively small transfer fee, the transfer can be considered a solution that reduces financial risk.

Digne should quickly enter the competition for a place in the squad. His experience may prove useful, especially in the most important matches of the season.

Finalization is very close

The most important terms of the transaction have already been agreed and the release clause has been activated. So all that was left was medical tests and signing the contract.

After completing the formalities, the 33-year-old will officially end his stay at Aston Villa and start the next stage of his career at Paris Saint-Germain.