Lucas Chevalier, the 23-year-old goalkeeper from Lille and the French national team, has joined Paris Saint-Germain this Saturday. He is expected to take over from Gianluigi Donnarumma (26), whose contract runs until 2026 but whose extension talks have stalled. It’s a bold choice for a keeper who has been decisive in the Champions League. Data’Scout compared the two players in Ligue 1 and Europe.
In Ligue 1:
In the Champions League:
One surprising point — and a reminder to be cautious when relying solely on statistics in football — is that Donnarumma has a higher pass accuracy than Chevalier, even though the latter is touted as being superior in this area. First, it’s worth noting that the Frenchman is not yet an elite reference in this skill. More importantly, the Italian takes very few risks and plays in a team that is often overwhelmingly dominant.
Chevalier is more effective in long distribution, while Donnarumma lacks some precision. This could be a useful tool for attracting the press and breaking it instantly, something PSG already does well by involving its defenders. Skipping a step could make them even more dangerous.
It’s also notable that Chevalier was far superior in shot-stopping in Ligue 1, where Donnarumma ultimately seemed to have a mixed season. Donnarumma’s true brilliance came in the Champions League, but the Frenchman’s numbers are slightly better in that competition as well — albeit from a run that ended in the round of 16. Still, it’s impressive.
In any case, Paris has not made a random signing, and Chevalier has the potential to make a significant impact at PSG. This takes nothing away from Donnarumma’s achievements in Paris, where he deserves a proper farewell — whether that comes this summer or in a year’s time, which remains uncertain.
