PSG and Aston Villa: The common threads
Ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup, set to be played between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, we look at the history of some of the biggest names to have featured for both clubs.
Lucas Digne: PSG 2013-16, 2026-; Aston Villa 2022-26
After coming through the academy with LOSC, Digne, who was born in the Parisian suburb of Meaux, joined his hometown club following their acquisition by QSI. While he would win a raft of titles there, he struggled for his place in the team, with both Maxwell and Layvin Kurzawa offering stiff competition. After spells with Barcelona and Everton, he landed in Birmingham four years ago, and enjoyed a successful spell under Unai Emery, including a return to being a regular for France. Now back at the Parc des Princes, the 33-year-old will be Nuno Mendes' understudy, but is surely excited for more success.
What a journey it’s been for Lucas Digne ✨ pic.twitter.com/UjC9qTZmix
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 10, 2026
Marco Asensio: PSG 2023-25; Aston Villa 2025
Another player to have moved directly between the two clubs, the Spanish international had struggled for first team football under countryman Luis Enrique, and joined Villa on loan for the second half of the 2024/25 season. Netting eight times in 21 appearances across all competitions, he helped Unai Emery's team reach the FA Cup semifinals as well as the Champions League quarterfinals by adding versatility in attack.
Idrissa Gueye: Aston Villa 2015-16; PSG 2019-22
Like Digne, Gueye also made his name with Lille, playing an integral role in Les Dogues' historic double in 2011. The veteran Senegal international would join Villa in 2015, but could do little to stop their relegation. After three seasons with Everton, he joined PSG in 2019, and his industry, versatility and reliability proved pivotal until he returned to Merseyside in 2022. Having called time on his most recent spell in blue, he remains a consummate professional as his 37th birthday approaches.
Idrissa Gana Gueye 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/ztznlI5p9x
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 26, 2026
David Ginola: PSG 1992-5; Aston Villa 2000-2
While far better known in England for his spells with Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, Ginola had a late-career spell at Villa Park. While there, he clashed frequently with fans, but still showed occasional flashes of talent, albeit nowhere near the level he'd exhibited in Paris, where he won every domestic honor in a three-and-a-half year spell.
Moussa Diaby: PSG 2018-19; Aston Villa 2023-4
Little-used under Unai Emery as an academy product, Diaby decamped for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2019, despite having featured far more regularly under Thomas Tuchel in his final campaign. He was an unqualified success in Leverkusen, and was part of the France squad that won the initial UEFA Nations League, but despite a more impressive spell working under Emery again at Villa in his loan season there, he was sold for financial reasons to Saudi Arabia, having not featured for his country since.
Read more:
