France full-back Lucas Digne signs three-year PSG deal
Midfielder Shea Charles to sign five-year Fulham contract
France defender Lucas Digne has completed his return to Paris Saint-Germain from Aston Villa on a three-year contract.
The 33-year-old full-back, who featured in six of Les Bleus’ World Cup matches this summer, had two years left on his contract with the Midlands club, with PSG triggering a reported release clause of between £6m-£7m.
Villa confirmed Digne’s exit on their website, adding that he is “a consummate professional, who was highly regarded by his fellow players and staff alike”.
He made 182 appearances in all competitions for Villa, scoring four goals and making 24 assists, after joining from Everton in a £25m deal in January 2022. He played a key role for Unai Emery’s side as they won the Europa League last season.
The Frenchman made 30 Ligue 1 appearances in a three-year spell at PSG until 2016, when he moved on to Barcelona. He told PSG’s website: “I am very honoured to be returning to Paris Saint-Germain following the wonderful experience I had here more than 10 years ago.”
Fulham have sought to bolster their midfield by spending £30m on Southampton’s Shea Charles.
Charles, a Northern Ireland international and breakout star of the last Championship season, is expected to sign a five-year deal at Craven Cottage once a medical assessment and legal formalities are completed.
Fulham will pay an initial fee of £26m, with another £4m dependent on performance, with the size of the fee believed to have ultimately deterred alternative interest from Leeds.
The 22-year-old played 2,000 minutes in the Championship last season as Southampton reached the playoffs before being excluded following revelations of spying against opponents. At Fulham, Charles will be expected to act as the linchpin of the midfield following the sale of Sasa Lukic to Ipswich earlier in the weekend.
Charles joins the young forwards Jonah Kusi-Asare and Gonzalo García as well as 21-year-old attacking midfielder César Palacios on the list of summer signings as Fulham seek to reduce the average age of their squad following the switch of manager from Marco Silva to the former Real Madrid B team coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
Trevoh Chalobah’s move to Como from Chelsea has been confirmed, in a deal worth an initial £25.7m. Terms for a five-year contract were agreed last week, but as the move was announced on Sunday, the England defender said he was “thrilled and honoured” to be joining Cesc Fàbregas’s side.
The pair overlapped at Stamford Bridge towards the end of the Spaniard’s time playing in England, and Chalobah said: “It’s an ambitious, rising project, and working with Cesc Fàbregas again is truly special. I can’t wait to bring my experience to the team, feel the incredible atmosphere at the stadium, and connect with the fans.”
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