Transfer: Ibrahim Mbaye set to join Aston Villa after agreement with PSG

The Villans have beaten Liverpool to the 18-year-old Senegal winger in a deal worth €55 million

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Transfer: Ibrahim Mbaye set to join Aston Villa after agreement with PSG

Aston Villa have beaten Liverpool to Ibrahim Mbaye, whose €55 million move from PSG is now expected to be finalised shortly.

The Ibrahim Mbaye transfer saga has taken a dramatic turn. Liverpool appeared to be leading the race, but the young Senegal international is now expected to continue his career in Birmingham. According to The Athletic, Aston Villa have reached an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain over a transfer worth an estimated €55 million. The final details must still be completed before the medical, contract signing and official announcement.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa reach agreement in principle to sign Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain. #AVFC move for 18yo #PSG winger in process of being finalised: €55m. Nasser Al-Khelaifi & Nassef Sawiris relationship key to closing deal @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/0z6xxuHoko
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 28, 2026

Aston Villa beat Liverpool to Ibrahim Mbaye

Mbaye had previously agreed personal terms with Liverpool over a five-year contract. PSG were reportedly demanding around €70 million, however, while the Reds were unwilling to exceed the €60 million mark. That difference in valuation allowed the Villans to seize the initiative and move quickly for a player they had tracked for several months.

The Senegalese winger had asked to join Liverpool, but the two clubs never reached a final agreement. The precise reasons behind the Reds’ withdrawal have not been disclosed. Villa primarily took advantage of the opening by presenting Paris with an offer that could immediately move the negotiations forward.

A direct winger searching for greater consistency

At just 18, Mbaye already possesses unusual experience for a player of his age. Naturally a right winger, he is right-footed but can operate on either flank. He made 28 Ligue 1 appearances during the 2025-26 season and scored three goals. His pace, direct running and ability to attack open spaces fit the attacking principles favoured by Unai Emery.

His departure also makes sense from a development perspective. Despite his considerable potential, the academy graduate faced intense competition for places in PSG’s wide attacking positions. He will have no guarantee of a starting role at Aston Villa, but should find a more favourable environment in which to collect minutes and improve his decision-making in the final third.

Champions League football could accelerate his development

Villa also represent an attractive sporting project. The Birmingham club finished fourth in the Premier League with 65 points last season and won the Europa League, securing a place in the 2026-27 Champions League. Mbaye would therefore remain exposed to the highest level of European football while adapting to one of the game’s most demanding domestic competitions.

Having already become the youngest African goalscorer in World Cup history in 2026, the forward is also regarded as a major long-term prospect for Senegal. If the deal is completed, Villa will be signing both an immediate rotation option and an asset with considerable resale potential. An official announcement is still required to confirm the transfer.