Everton confirm signing of defender Lucas Digne from Barcelona

Everton have completed the signing of Barcelona defender Lucas Digne, who has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Goodison Park.

Digne, 25, sat out Barca’s International Champions Cup game against Tottenham on Saturday after an Everton bid was accepted.

The France-born left-back moved to the Camp Nou from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016, having also played for Roma, but has played second fiddle to Jordi Alba.

“Everton is a big club with a great history. I want to play games, win games and excite the fans with the quality of our football,” Digne told the club’s website.

“I played good football in Rome and I played well, too, in Barcelona. I progressed a lot as a player and as a person by playing with the best players in the world.

“I want to show my best football here and discover the best league in the world. Everybody loves the Premier League. I am loving the fact I am coming here.

🇫🇷 | Bienvenue, @LucasDigne! #EFC

👉 https://t.co/FnStiRzydB pic.twitter.com/PkKWnUQ4S9

— Everton (@Everton) August 1, 2018

“I am not afraid, I am excited. For me, it is a new challenge to discover a country, a league, people and a great club such as Everton. It is fabulous.”

France international Digne said he was looking forward to working with Everton manager Marco Silva.

He said: “I had a great feeling with him when we spoke. Immediately I said: ‘I want to come to Everton.’ The club has brought in a lot of players and we are building to bring some success in the Premier League.”

Silva said Digne had shown “enormous desire to play at Everton,” adding: “He is a high-quality player, aggressive, with good technical ability.”