Lucas Digne bids farewell with message as Aston Villa exit agreed
Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne has reacted after the club announced on social media to confirm a player departure amid his own future being under speculation.
Digne endured a season as a rotational option last term under Unai Emery, as Villa missed out on Champions League football on the final day.
Since arriving from Everton in 2022, he has has been a regular presence in the Villa squad. However, following Aston Villa’s signing of Ian Maatsen last summer, his minutes became increasingly limited.
The 31-year-old has just one year left on his current deal and has been linked with a move away. Football Insider recently revealed that Digne is in talks with Atletico Madrid, with Villa understood to be seeking a £10million fee for the experienced left-back.
While his future is under speculation, the defender was active on social media after the club announced an exit.
Enzo Barrenechea leaves Aston Villa to join Benfica on loan
Aston Villa have confirmed that midfielder Enzo Barrenechea has left the club on a season-long loan to join Portuguese side Benfica.
The announcement was made via the club’s official Instagram account, where fellow Villa player Digne appeared to acknowledge the update by liking the post.
Barrenechea joined Aston Villa in 2024 from Juventus as part of a deal that also included Samuel Iling-Junior, with Douglas Luiz moving in the opposite direction. The Argentine spent last season on loan at Valencia, where he made 30 appearances and established himself as an important figure in their midfield.
While Luiz made the switch to Juventus, he is already being linked with a swift departure following a difficult spell in Turin. Manchester United are exploring a potential move for Luiz, to bring him back to the Premier League.
Now, Barrenechea has a fresh opportunity to impress at the highest level, with Benfica set to compete in the Champions League next season, offering a bigger platform than Villa, who will play in the Europa League.
| Season statistics | Enzo Barrenechea |
| Appearances | 33 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
Jacob Ramsey open to Aston Villa exit amid Nottingham Forest interest
In addition to Digne’s uncertain future, Jacob Ramsey could also be on the move from Aston Villa this summer, with Nottingham Forest expressing interest in signing the England youth international.
This development comes after Football Insider revealed in May that Ramsey is unhappy at Villa due to limited playing time under Emery.
With financial pressures still lingering at Villa Park, a substantial offer from Forest or another club could be enough to convince the hierarchy to cash in on the midfielder.