Liverpool are reportedly looking to secure a deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye this summer
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Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye is said to be of interest to Liverpool this summer. But who is the 18-year-old winger and why do the Reds want him?
Mbaye joined the PSG academy in 2018 from Versailles. In 2024, he was called up by Luis Enrique to train with the first team due to a string of impressive performances.
He made 12 appearances for PSG in his first season as they won Ligue 1 and 29 last year as they retained the title. He was an unused substitute in PSG's Champions League final victories in 2024 and 2025 and the French giants are said to value him at around £43million.
It's no secret the Reds are crying out for pace on the flanks and like Liverpool's other transfer target playing at PSG this summer, Bradley Barcola, Mbaye is quick and direct. Similar to Red's youngster Rio Ngumoha, Mbaye has excellent close control and a burst of acceleration that often allows him to beat his man.
A left-footer, he primarily operates on the right wing and enjoys cutting in to shoot. However, he can also play on the left, where he prefers to chalk his boots and cross the ball.
That said, the stats tell a developing story. Mbaye has played 36 times on the right in his senior career, scoring eight and bagging 10 assists. He has yet to score from the left in ten appearances but has earned three assists from that flank.
Ibrahim Mbaye of PSG in action against Paris FC.
Ibrahim Mbaye of PSG in action against Paris FC.(Image: Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Mbaye was part of the Senegal squad for the 2026 World Cup and scored a late consolation in his nation's 3-1 loss to France. He also came on in the 77th minute in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco.
Former Liverpool and Senegal winger Sadio Mane has praised his young team-mate, too. “He has a bright future ahead of him," Mane said during last year's Africa Cup of Nations. "We will try to help him find the right rhythm so that he can help us even more, because he is an exceptional player.”
A spot of controversy has followed the young star, however. It began as French transfer journalist, Romain Molina, accused Mbaye of being 'swayed' by agents.
He even claimed the player's family had "lost touch with reality" and there are "red flags everywhere." Tribuna alleged that Mbaye's parents have exercised "heavy control" over the winger.
The report claimed that requests stemming from the player's reps included shares of commission and image rights. Funding for a “Foundation Mbaye”, plans for a Senegal-based football academy, as well as various personal perks were also said to be demands made by his entourage as they looked to secure Mbaye a high-profile transfer.
The accusations came as the reporter shared images of two Chelsea home shirts in July of this year, both emblazoned with the number 49 and the names of Mbaye's parents, “Yasmina” and "Abdoulaye". They were lying alongside a Chelsea shopping bag, while his parents have also been snapped holding personalised Aston Villa shirts.
The photographs do not indicate any formal agreement or wrongdoing. Mbaye has even publicly addressed the allegations, describing them as attacks on his family.
PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates scoring against Lens.
PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye celebrates scoring against Lens.(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
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“It’s fascinating how people can slander my family and me… But there is a God, and God will take care of those people,” Mbaye wrote on Instagram. He added: “Mum, Dad, I love you.”
Speaking to RMC, the player's father believes his son has what it takes to make it at the highest level. He said: "When given love, he always accepts it and knows how to be social with everyone.
"On a footballing level, he has always been mature in his play, and this was the case when he was in the youth categories, and it remains so with the seniors. This is a great achievement for a young man his age."
Whether Liverpool will make their move for Mbaye remains to be seen. The youngster has no doubt shone in France, and with two Ligue 1 titles and two European Cups to his name at just 18, he's perhaps more than ready to take the step to the Premier League.