A big newcomer to the Premier League this morning …
Lucas Digne has completed his move from Everton to Aston Villa.
The left-back joins a deal that climbs to £ 25m after falling out with Toffees boss Rafael Benitez.
The French international will be Villa’s second signing in January after Philippe Coutinho was loaned from Barcelona.
Villa boss Steven Gerrard told the club’s official website: “When Lucas became available, we took the opportunity to bring him to the club.
“The signing of a player of his pedigree and quality in the January window is a great addition to our squad and his arrival excites me and everyone involved with Aston Villa.”
Digne, who moved from Barcelona to Goodison Park in August 2018, said in a post on Instagram Wednesday night that he loved being “part of the Everton family”.
Benitez confirmed last week that the 28-year-old had said he no longer wanted to play for the club.
Digne added: “I just signed a new contract a year ago with the aim of staying with this club for a long time, all for my club, for the development and the project I believed in – and for the passionate fans too give.
“It was my dream to help the club back to where it belongs. Wearing the captain’s armband in some games always made me proud.
“Everything has to come to an end. I just didn’t expect it to end like this. What happened in the last month and a lot was said about me made me very sad. But I will not have a war of words with anyone. “
The defender hadn’t played since the Merseyside derby defeat on December 1 after an argument with the manager over tactics and his role on the team.
Criticizing Digne’s attitude, Benitez said, “We get a lot of money to do our job and if someone is happy or not happy it is (still) up to you to perform at your job.
“You have to put your interests behind the interests of the association. If you don’t think about it, you and not the team have priority. “
Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi could still move to Goodison Park but the deals are not linked.
