Ibrahim Mbaye is leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Aston Villa. The 18-year-old costs £47 million and is joining a different club from the one he had long been linked with.
When we wrote about Mbaye in August, the rumours pointed towards Anfield. It turned out to be Birmingham instead.
Young, but not inexperienced
The Senegalese player came through PSG's academy and made his first-team debut in August 2024. Since then, he has been part of the squad that won the Champions League two years in a row, as well as Ligue 1 in 2025 and 2026.
At this summer's World Cup, he became the youngest African player to score at a World Cup, aged 18 years and 143 days, in Senegal's 3-1 defeat by France.
Aston Villa describe him as “fast and fearless” – fast and fearless.
Reinvesting the Watkins money
The move comes after Villa sold Ollie Watkins to Al Hilal for £51 million. The club also signed centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton on deadline day for £25 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
Villa have therefore spent a large portion of the Watkins fee on two players within the same 24 hours – one at each end of the pitch.
One to watch
Mbaye is 18 and comes from a club where he has rarely been a regular starter. This is as much an investment in potential as in immediate returns, and the price tag gives an indication of how highly Villa rate that potential.
Source: Sky Sports