Aston Villa has reached an agreement to sign Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain for over £47 million. This move follows the club's unsuccessful pursuit of AC Milan's Rafael Leao.
Daily Mail Sport initially reported Villa's interest in Mbaye on May 1, noting that the player was deemed surplus to requirements by PSG. The Premier League club moved quickly to finalize terms with the French champions, as Leao neared an agreement with Galatasaray.
Liverpool had engaged in preliminary discussions regarding Mbaye but ultimately decided against proceeding, while Bayer Leverkusen had previously submitted a bid. Villa has monitored the Senegal international for a considerable period, and the deal is considered a significant acquisition given the competition from other clubs.
Mbaye, who is 18 years old, represented Senegal at the World Cup. He is capable of playing across the attacking line, though he primarily prefers to operate from the right flank. He was born in France but chose to play for Senegal, scoring against France during the World Cup tournament.
Last season, Mbaye started only ten matches for PSG, facing intense competition for places. He contributed one goal and two assists for the Parisian club. Villa had previously sent a delegation to Milan to negotiate a loan for Leao, but shifted their focus to Mbaye once it became apparent Leao was close to joining a Turkish club.