Andoni Iraola_v1
Ibrahim Mbaye to Liverpool has picked up serious momentum after the 18-year-old reportedly agreed to the financial terms of a five-year contract, according to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins. Mbaye has chosen Liverpool and does not want to continue discussions with Bayer Leverkusen.
Hawkins reported on August 17 that Liverpool and Mbaye had agreed personal terms, giving the Reds an advantage. The agreement with Paris Saint-Germain still needs separate work, because personal terms do not complete a transfer. Reports have linked Liverpool with PSG winger Bradley Barcola as well, so Mbaye’s negotiations form part of a wider attacking push.
Mbaye’s numbers explain the interest. He made 24 Ligue 1 appearances in 2025/26 and scored three goals, while he featured four times in the Champions League. He then scored for Senegal against France at the 2026 World Cup. Mbaye struck in stoppage time against Lens to seal the 14th Ligue 1 title.
Ibrahim Mbaye to Liverpool could solve a clear right-wing issue
For Liverpool, the appeal goes beyond those figures. Andoni Iraola wants a high-intensity, vertical side, and Mbaye’s pace, close control and willingness to attack space suit that plan. On the right, he could start wide, then drive into the half-space and combine with an overlapping full-back or central forward.
Salah’s departure has created a major vacancy, so Liverpool need another winger who can carry the ball and threaten defences rather than simply hold the touchline. Mbaye gives Iraola a young option with room to grow. Yet the jump from Ligue 1 to the Premier League remains sizeable, and Liverpool shouldn’t treat an 18-year-old as an instant Salah replacement.
Ibrahim Mbaye to Liverpool makes sense as a long-term move
The tactical fit becomes stronger when Liverpool use Mbaye gradually. His acceleration could prove particularly useful late in matches, when tired defenders leave bigger spaces behind them. Victor Muñoz can share that workload, while Mbaye learns the pace, physical demands and defensive intensity of English football.
His age gives Liverpool another advantage in squad planning because he remains a youth player for registration purposes for several seasons. Still, the next step matters most: Liverpool must agree on a fee with PSG and give Mbaye the right minutes. The personal agreement marks a major development, but the transfer itself isn’t finished. Ibrahim Mbaye to Liverpool now has strong momentum.