Lucas Digne, pace and youth at full back

22 year old French defender Lucas Digne comes to FC Barcelona to bolster the squad at left back. The player began his career in the youth teams at Lille, making his debut for the first team in the season 2011/12. His performances brought him to the attention of Paris Saint-Germain and in 2013 he joined the club from the French capital.

He spent two seasons with the current French league champions before going out on loan to Italian side AS Roma at the start of last season in order to gain valuable playing time and experience. Now, the defender comes to Barcelona to team up with Luis Enrique’s squad.

Despite being just 22, Digne has already played 148 games in official competition. His pace on the left hand side of defence allows him to pose a very real threat going forward, as does his excellent ability on the ball. Evidence of that are the six goals and 11 assists he has recorded so far in his career.

Last season he was an important part of As Roma’s squad, playing 43 games in all competitions for the Italians, all as a starter. In the Champions League he came up against FC Barcelona on two occasions in the group stage, starting both the 1-1 draw in Rome and the 6-1 defeat at Camp Nou.

The new blaugrana full back will be the second French signing of the week, following on from that of his fellow international defender Samuel Umtiti. Both players have represented their country at all levels and both formed part of the World Cup winning French U20 squad in 2013. Lucas Digne was part of Didier Deschamps’ French squad for the recent European Championships in which the hosts were runners up to Portugal.