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 and landing a punch in the process on several Premier League rivals.

The 18-year-old winger, long tracked by Liverpool this summer, 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 club already under pressure after a nightmare opening day.

Villa’s season began with a 4-0 hammering by Brighton, a defeat made worse by the sending off of Joao Gomes. One game in, they sit bottom of the Premier League table and already look in need of a jolt. Mbaye is being brought in to provide exactly that.

The PSG academy product has already made 42 senior appearances for the French champions, enough to convince a queue of clubs that he is ready for a bigger role. Villa appear to have won that race. He will join Alejandro Garnacho, who arrived on loan from Chelsea, to give Unai Emery fresh width and pace in wide areas after a summer of attacking reshaping.

This was no uncontested signing. Chelsea and RB Leipzig both made approaches in recent days as Mbaye’s situation at PSG sharpened. Liverpool were heavily involved too, only to back away when the French club’s initial demands climbed towards €70m, according to RMC Sport.

Once those numbers appeared on the table, Liverpool changed course. Their recruitment team have turned their attention to Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, though Brighton have already rejected bids of £50m and £60m.

Fabian Hurzeler is determined not to lose another key attacker after his side’s blistering start. The Brighton head coach made his stance clear when asked about Minteh’s future.

“Rumours. Rumours,” he said. “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 out with a leg injury but is open to a move to Anfield, while Liverpool have also made an enquiry for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr this week as they search for alternatives to Mbaye.

For Villa, the equation is simpler. They have paid the price, beaten off elite competition and are about to place a significant chunk of their future in the hands of an 18-year-old winger. After the way their season started, they need him to ignite quickly.