Aston Villa Complete £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 rips up and rebuilds his squad in dramatic fashion.
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 have moved decisively for Mbaye after missing out on AC Milan forward Rafa Leao, who is joining Galatasaray.
Villa were among several Premier League clubs tracking Mbaye, with interest first emerging in March. Liverpool also explored a move earlier this summer before turning their attention to his PSG teammate Bradley Barcola. Villa, though, have pushed hardest – and now have their man, subject to the formalities.
A summer of upheaval at Villa Park
This is not a gentle evolution. It’s a full-scale reset.
Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne have all departed. The spine that helped power Villa into contention in recent seasons is being dismantled piece by piece. On top of that, key figures Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez are also expected to leave.
Through the exit door one minute, straight through the entrance the next. Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi, Leon Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matteo Ruggeri have already arrived. A deal is also in place to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, agreed before Villa closed in on Mbaye.
Emery is not pretending this is easy. But he is fully aligned with the club’s direction.
“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 Villa’s trip to Arsenal on Monday Night Football.
“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.”
Watkins out, Jackson in
The most emotional twist of Villa’s summer came up front.
Emery confirmed that Watkins is leaving for Al Hilal in a £50m move, with the England striker having missed the defeat to Brighton. The manager revealed Watkins apologised after that absence and accepted he had made a mistake.
“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,” Emery admitted.
“Now it's a new chapter with Nicolas Jackson. Of course, all the best for him in Saudi. We are replacing him.”
Jackson’s £65m switch from Chelsea is all but done, with only the final formalities remaining after he completed his medical on Thursday. Emery wants him available as soon as possible.
Jackson signed in time to play Monday? “Hopefully,” came the answer.
A new-look Villa attack
With Jackson primed to lead the line and Mbaye set to add pace and directness from the flank, Villa’s front line is being rebuilt at speed. Garnacho offers threat on the opposite side, while Goretzka and Gomes bring fresh power and control in midfield.
The risk is obvious: too much change, too quickly. The potential reward is just as clear.
Emery insists the club can stay competitive while undergoing this transformation. The next few weeks – and how quickly Mbaye and Jackson settle – will reveal whether Villa have simply survived a turbulent window, or quietly armed themselves for another surge up the Premier League table.
