Aston Villa Set to Sign Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG for £47m
Aston Villa have struck a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign highly rated winger Ibrahim Mbaye in a deal worth around £47m, as Unai Emery’s rebuild gathers even more pace.
The 18-year-old, who broke into the PSG first team last season, is set to become the latest piece in a rapidly changing Villa squad after the club moved decisively for him having missed out on AC Milan forward Rafa Leao, who is heading to Galatasaray.
Villa had been tracking Mbaye for months. Sky Sports News revealed back in March that the Midlands club were among several Premier League sides weighing up a move. Liverpool also took a close look this summer, sounding out a potential deal before switching their attention to Mbaye’s team-mate Bradley Barcola.
Villa, though, have gone all in.
Mbaye, who predominantly operates off the right flank, made 24 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG last season, scoring three times and providing two assists. Raw, quick and direct, he fits the profile Emery has been leaning towards: high ceiling, high intensity, and ready to grow.
Emery’s overhaul gathers speed
This is not a gentle refresh. It’s a tear-down and rebuild on the fly.
Villa have already waved goodbye to Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne, while key figures Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez are also on course to leave. In their place, the club have moved aggressively: Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi, Leon Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matteo Ruggeri have all come through the door.
A deal is in place for Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, and now Mbaye is next in line.
Speaking ahead of Villa’s trip to Arsenal on Monday Night Football, Emery was clear that the upheaval is part of a deliberate plan rather than a loss of control before the September 1 Deadline Day.
“We took some decisions because it's good for the club. We tried to compete as good as possible, but some situations are clear,” he said.
“It's the right way and decision. We don't want to be a club to sell players, but our responsibility is there. For the club it's a good deal.
“It's not changing our priorities to be competitive. We must be the same. Strong development with the players.
“I am confident and positive. The players we are signing are good players. We need to get balance with experience and players with huge potential.
“Of course, I want to keep some players, the ones who help us to be successful. But I accept it because I have experience before in the same situation.
“I expect to continue to do special and different ways. The objective is to get progressively in the same way. We will need time.”
Time is the one thing managers rarely get in the Premier League. Emery is trying to accelerate the process with bold calls.
Watkins out, Jackson in – and Mbaye next
The biggest emotional jolt came with Ollie Watkins’ departure. Emery confirmed the striker is set to join Al Hilal in a £50m move, drawing a line under the career of a player who has been central to Villa’s rise in recent seasons.
Emery revealed Watkins had apologised after missing the defeat to Brighton, describing it as a mistake from a player he still clearly holds in high regard.
“Watkins said sorry after Brighton. He made a mistake. He always had good behaviour in the club and with me. He's a fantastic guy. I told him 'bye', with a huge hug and a small cry.
“Now it's a new chapter with Nicolas Jackson. Of course, all the best for him in Saudi. We are replacing him.”
Jackson’s £65m move from Chelsea is close to completion, with only final formalities remaining after he passed his medical on Thursday. Asked if the striker could be registered in time to face Arsenal on Monday, Emery replied: “Hopefully.”
As Jackson prepares to lead the line and Mbaye edges closer to filling the right flank, Villa’s attack is being ripped up and rewritten in real time. Proven Premier League output has gone; in its place, pace, potential and a manager backing his own judgment.
The question now is simple: can Emery weld this new-look, high-talent squad into a side that not only survives the turbulence, but climbs higher than before?
