Aston Villa Secures £47m Deal for PSG's Ibrahim Mbaye
Aston Villa have reached a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign highly rated winger Ibrahim Mbaye in a deal worth around £47m, as Unai Emery’s overhaul gathers pace.
The 18-year-old, who operates mainly from the right, is set to leave the French champions after making 24 Ligue 1 appearances last season, scoring three times and providing two assists. Villa accelerated their move for Mbaye after missing out on AC Milan forward Rafa Leao, who is joining Galatasaray.
Villa were first linked with Mbaye back in March, when they emerged as one of several Premier League clubs tracking the teenager. Liverpool also explored a move this summer but turned their attention to his PSG teammate Bradley Barcola, clearing the path for Emery and Villa to close in.
This is not a tweak to the squad. It is a reset.
Emery’s ruthless rebuild
It has been a summer of upheaval at Villa Park. Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne have all departed. The spine that helped drive Villa into contention in recent seasons is being stripped back, with key figures Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez also set to leave.
In their place, a new core is being assembled at speed.
- Alejandro Garnacho
- Johan Manzambi
- Leon Goretzka
- Joao Gomes
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka
- Matteo Ruggeri
have already arrived. A deal is in place for Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea. Now Mbaye is next in line, another piece in an increasingly bold, aggressive rebuild.
Emery insists this is all part of a deliberate plan, not chaos.
“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 ahead of Monday night’s trip to Arsenal.
“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, though, is not something managers are often granted in the Premier League. Emery is trying to build a new side while the clock to Deadline Day on September 1 ticks loudly in the background.
Watkins out, Jackson in
The most emotional shift of the summer came up front.
Emery confirmed that Ollie Watkins is on his way to Al Hilal in a £50m deal, bringing an end to the striker’s spell as Villa’s focal point. Watkins missed the defeat to Brighton and, according to his manager, owned up to his part in the breakdown.
“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.”
Villa have moved quickly to fill the void, agreeing a £65m deal with Chelsea for Jackson, who has already completed his medical. Registration is now the only barrier to his debut.
Will he be ready in time to face Arsenal on Monday?
“Hopefully,” Emery replied.
That one word summed up the mood at Villa Park: a club in transition, moving fast, taking risks, and betting big on potential. Mbaye, with his raw pace and direct threat from the right, fits that profile perfectly.
The question now is simple: how quickly can this new-look Villa side turn promise into points?
