Aston Villa Sign Ibrahim Mbaye for €55m Deal
Aston Villa have struck an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Ibrahim Mbaye in a €55m (£47m) deal, landing one of Europe’s most coveted teenagers just as their season has started to unravel.
The 18-year-old winger is due to undergo a medical on Saturday before signing a five-year contract, with an option for a further year. If all goes to plan, he will walk into a dressing room in need of a jolt.
Villa were hammered 4-0 by Brighton on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, a bruising defeat made worse by a red card for Joao Gomes. One game in, they sit bottom of the 2026-27 table. The timing of this move is no coincidence.
Villa beat Liverpool, Chelsea and Leipzig to Mbaye
Liverpool had tracked Mbaye all summer. Chelsea and RB Leipzig also pushed hard in recent days. Villa, though, have won the race for a player who has already made 42 senior appearances for PSG and carries the tag of “highly rated” for a reason.
He will join Alejandro Garnacho, on loan from Chelsea, as a fresh option out wide for Villa, who have lacked incision and pace in the final third. Mbaye’s arrival is designed to change that quickly.
The battle for his signature has been fierce. According to RMC Sport, Liverpool walked away when PSG’s opening demands climbed towards €70m. Once that price point emerged, the deal shifted from Merseyside to the Midlands.
Villa moved decisively. Liverpool pivoted.
Liverpool turn to Minteh after PSG talks stall
With PSG’s valuation deemed excessive, Liverpool switched their attention to other wingers, most notably Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. Two sizeable offers — £50m and £60m — have already been rejected.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler made it clear he wants to keep Minteh, but he stopped short of making any promises.
“Rumours. Rumours,” he said when asked about Liverpool’s interest. “Let’s see what happens. Again, another example of a player who benefits from the success of the team.
“He benefits for example from hard work from Pascal [Gross], hard work from Jack Hinshelwood, hard work from all the other players.
“And he knows it. Therefore I also think it’s important to understand as a player what you have here, playing for a club like Brighton.
“You have a club that gives you the chance, you team-mates who are really trying to push you, you have a club that is there for you also in tough moments.
“[New Man United signing] Carlos Baleba had so many tough moments when he was here, Minteh also had tough moments, but we were always there for them, always tried to help them, their team-mates are there for them.
“So I think it’s also important for the players to understand what they have here with this club, how the fans are connected, how we are working together.
“It’s difficult to find a similar environment, or better environment, for potential young players. But the same with Minteh, we were successful as a team, that brings attention on him, so let’s see what happens.
“If you ask me if I’ll try to convince him to stay, yes I try to convince him to stay. But can I control everything? No, I can’t control everything.”
Minteh is currently sidelined with a leg injury but is open to joining Liverpool. The club have also made an enquiry for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr this week as they widen their search.
For Villa, though, the picture is clearer. Barring any late twist in the medical, Mbaye will be theirs — a statement signing for a club already under pressure, and a reminder that in this market, hesitation can be brutally expensive.
