Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and 18-year-old Senegal international Ibrahim Mbaye have completed the forward’s £47 million move from Paris Saint-Germain to Villa Park on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, giving the Premier League club another exciting attacking option during a major squad rebuild.
Villa confirmed the permanent transfer after reaching an agreement with PSG for the teenager, with Sky Sports reporting the fee as a club-record £47 million.
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The reported figure is equivalent to about €55 million, while French outlet Le Parisien put the total value at €60 million including bonuses.
The move represents a significant step for Mbaye, who leaves PSG after eight years at the club.
Mbaye joined the Parisian academy from FC Versailles in 2018, aged 10, and progressed through the youth system before breaking into the senior side.
Mbaye made his professional debut against Le Havre in August 2024 at 16 years, six months and 23 days.
The appearance made him PSG’s youngest player to start a Ligue 1 match, a record he still holds.
His rise gathered pace during the following seasons. PSG records show that Mbaye made 42 first-team appearances and collected eight major honours, including two Champions League titles and two Ligue 1 championships.
The teenager also enjoyed a memorable international breakthrough with Senegal.
After representing France at youth level, Mbaye switched his international allegiance to Senegal in 2025.
He subsequently made his senior debut and was selected for the 2026 World Cup squad.
Mbaye appeared in all four of Senegal’s matches at the tournament and scored against France.
The goal made him the youngest African player to score at a men’s World Cup, adding a striking milestone to an already remarkable early career.
His club form has also attracted considerable attention. Mbaye scored three goals and supplied two assists in 31 appearances for PSG last season, while playing a part in another successful campaign for the French champions.
Villa’s interest in Mbaye was not sudden. The Birmingham club had been monitoring the winger for months, while Liverpool were also reported to have explored a move for the Senegal international during the summer.
The eventual agreement gives Emery another young attacking player as Aston Villa reshape their squad following a turbulent but successful season.
Villa won the Europa League last season, ending a 30-year wait for a major trophy.
The triumph was followed by substantial changes to Emery’s squad, with Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins among the notable departures.
Emery has responded with an ambitious recruitment programme that has already brought several new faces to Villa Park, including Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson.
Mbaye now joins that group as one of the club’s most intriguing long-term investments.
For PSG, the departure marks the end of a particularly rewarding chapter for a player developed within its academy.
The French club said Mbaye leaves with eight trophies and thanked the youngster while wishing him success for the next stage of his career.
For Aston Villa, the signing is both a statement of ambition and a calculated investment in youth.
Mbaye arrives in England with Champions League experience, international pedigree and the confidence of having already performed on football’s biggest stages.
At 18, his Premier League journey is only beginning, but the foundation is already compelling.
Also read: Man city and Arsenal make bold deadline-day moves
Villa will hope Mbaye can turn his exceptional potential into a sustained impact as Emery continues to build a new-look side at Villa Park.
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.


























