Aston Villa Agree Deal for Winger Ibrahim Mbaye
Aston Villa have struck a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign highly rated winger Ibrahim Mbaye in a deal worth around £47m, as Unai Emery’s rebuild gathers yet more pace and edge.
The 18-year-old, who operates mainly off the right, made 24 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG last season, scoring three times and supplying two assists. Villa have now moved decisively for him after missing out on AC Milan forward Rafa Leao, who is heading to Galatasaray.
Villa’s interest in Mbaye has been bubbling for months. Sky Sports News reported back in March that the Midlands club were among several Premier League sides tracking him. Liverpool also explored a move earlier this summer, before switching their attention to Mbaye’s team-mate Bradley Barcola.
This time, Villa didn’t hesitate. They’ve agreed a fee with PSG and are closing in on one of Europe’s most intriguing young wide forwards.
Emery’s overhaul gathers pace
Mbaye’s arrival comes in the middle of a turbulent summer at Villa Park. Key figures Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne have all departed, ripping out a sizeable chunk of the core that helped drive Villa back into the European conversation.
Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez also look set to go, underlining the sheer scale of change Emery is managing. Yet the response from the club has been aggressive, not cautious.
Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi, Leon Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matteo Ruggeri have all come through the door. A deal is already in place for Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, and now Mbaye is next in line.
It’s not a tweak. It’s a reset.
Speaking ahead of Villa’s trip to Arsenal on Monday Night Football, Emery was clear that the churn is part of a deliberate strategy, not a loss of control in the market.
“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.
“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.”
Those “players with huge potential” now include Mbaye, a teenager stepping into a dressing room being rapidly reimagined around him.
Watkins out, Jackson in
The most emotional twist of Villa’s window has come up front. Emery confirmed that Ollie Watkins is leaving, with the striker set to join Al Hilal in a £50m deal.
Watkins missed the defeat to Brighton and, according to Emery, knew he had crossed a line.
“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. Jackson’s £65m transfer from Chelsea is all but done, with only the final formalities left after he completed his medical on Thursday.
Can he be involved straight away, against Arsenal on Monday night? Emery’s answer was short and pointed.
“Hopefully.”
So Villa move into the new season with a new No 9 on the way, a new right winger agreed, and a squad that looks dramatically different from the one that lit up the Premier League last year. The question now is simple: can this bold, expensive gamble keep them on that same upward curve?
