Aston Villa Signs Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG for €55m
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 expected 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 Villa Park dressing room that desperately needs a lift.
Villa’s Premier League campaign could hardly have begun worse. A 4-0 hammering at Brighton, compounded by a red card for Joao Gomes, has left them bottom of the table heading into matchweek two of the 2026-27 season. The mood has been flat. The response from the board has not.
Mbaye, already with 42 senior appearances for PSG, will join Alejandro Garnacho – on loan from Chelsea – as a fresh wide option. Two new wingers, one clear message: Villa intend to attack their way out of trouble.
They have had to move decisively to get him. Liverpool tracked Mbaye throughout the summer and were long considered serious contenders for his signature. Chelsea and RB Leipzig also came hard in recent days, making several approaches as the fee climbed.
The turning point came when PSG’s initial demands pushed towards €70m. According to RMC Sport, Liverpool walked away at that stage, judging the price too steep and switching their focus elsewhere. Villa stayed at the table and, at €55m, finally found common ground with the French champions.
Liverpool’s change of course has led them back to the south coast. Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh has emerged as a primary target, with the Anfield club already seeing bids of £50m and £60m rejected.
Brighton Manager's Comments
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler made it clear he wants to keep Minteh, but he stopped short of any guarantees.
“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 a move to Liverpool, who have also made an enquiry for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr this week as they weigh up their options out wide.
For Villa, though, the picture is clearer. They have gambled big on Mbaye – a teenager with pace, pedigree and pressure on his shoulders from day one. A club reeling from a brutal opening day has chosen its response: spend, refresh, and trust a prodigy to help drag them off the foot of the table.
