Liverpool is set to lose out on longtime PSG transfer target Ibrahim Mbaye to Premier League rival Aston Villa in a suprise transfer move after Reds interest all summer
Ibrahim Mbaye
Ibrahim Mbaye (L) appears to be headed to Aston Villa (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool kept busy on a potential move for Paris Saint-Germain's 18-year-old Senegalese right-winger Ibrahim Mbaye all summer in case a move for Bradley Barcola stalled. Now, he's off the table.
After the Reds received a "Here we go" from Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Thursday for Barcola's £100 million ($160 million) move to Merseyside, Aston Villa pounced on the now-available Mbaye.
The Birmingham side, flush with cash from the sales of Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, and others, emerged from nowhere to land Mbaye for €55 million ($64 million) in a surprising transfer coup after longstanding Liverpool interest.
While the Barcola swap appears likely, the player has yet to be officially confirmed as a Liverpool replacement and is still awaiting a medical. If a new hurdle appears at the last second, the Reds will now be down one extra alternative in the shape of Mbaye.
RMC Sport confirmed last week that Liverpool and PSG did not see eye-to-eye in Mbaye's transfer value, a similar story between the clubs on Barcola.
PSG reportedly valued Mbaye at closer to £60 million ($82 million), while the Reds viewed him as a £43 million ($59 million) player. He'll ultimately move to Villa for €55 million ($64 million), which is much closer to Liverpool's estimate.
David Ornstein of The Athletic confirmed Aston Villa's agreement with PSG on Friday. The Birmingham side have monitored the Senegalese international since January, but always seemed to be outsiders for his signature.
Mbaye joined PSG in 2018 at age 10 from FC Versailles 78, where Thierry Henry played in his youth before joining Monaco.
Ibrahim Mbaye
Ibrahim Mbaye in PSG preseason action earlier this month(Image: Getty Images)
He broke into Luis Enrique's first-team side in 2024, making 39 appearances for the two-time reigning Champions League winners. At 16, Mbaye became the youngest-ever player to start for PSG. The crafty winger was also a rotation option for Senegal at the 2026 World Cup, scoring against France in the group stage.
Mbaye wasn't named to Enrique's bench for PSG's opening Ligue 1 game amid transfer rumors.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, has completely overhauled its squad after winning the 2026 Europa League final. Out are a host of 2025/26 first-team regulars, including Rogers (to Manchester City), Konsa (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Al Hillal), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United), Emiliano Martinez (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (PSG), and likely Tammy Abraham (pending move to Ipswich Town).
Incomings include Jordi Manzambi (Freiburg), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Zion Suzuki (Parma), Joao Gomes (Wolves), Matteo Ruggeri (Atletico Madrid), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), and others.