Aston Villa complete £47m Mbaye signing

Aston Villa has secured the signing of 18-year-old Senegalese winger Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris St-Germain for a fee of £47m. During his time at PSG, Mbaye showcased his talent by scoring three goals and providing two assists in 31 games across all competitions, contributing to the team's successful defense of their Ligue 1 and Champions League titles in the previous season.

Mbaye was a part of Senegal's squad for the 2026 World Cup, participating in all four of his country's matches. He scored a goal in a 3-1 defeat against France, marking his status as the youngest African player to score at a men's World Cup. Mbaye's journey with PSG began in the summer of 2018 when he joined the club from FC Versailles 78. He made his senior debut for the French giants in August 2024 at the age of 16.

Born in France, Mbaye initially represented the French national team at the youth level. However, he switched his international allegiance to Senegal in 2025, becoming eligible to play for the Senegalese team after his father qualified for the nation. Mbaye's signing follows a series of high-profile acquisitions by Aston Villa, including Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi, and Nicolas Jackson.

Despite the significant investments made by Aston Villa over the summer, some key members of Unai Emery's Europa League-winning squad have departed. Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea in a deal worth £117m, while defender Ezri Konsa moved to Arsenal for £55m, and striker Ollie Watkins transferred to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for £51m.