Aston Villa sign Mbaye and Harwood-Bellis
Retold by Oddsrama · 1 September 2026
Aston Villa have bolstered their attacking options with the acquisition of 18-year-old Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain, completing a deal worth €55 million (£47m). The young talent arrives at Villa Park fresh off a season at PSG where he chipped in with three goals and two assists across 31 competitive outings, helping the Parisian club retain both their Ligue 1 crown and Champions League trophy.
Mbaye's credentials are genuinely eye-catching for someone so young. He featured in all four of Senegal's 2026 World Cup matches and etched his name into history by becoming the youngest African player ever to score at a men's World Cup when he netted in a 3-1 loss to France. Born in France and previously capped by Les Bleus at youth level, the winger switched allegiance to Senegal in 2025 through his father's nationality. He'd joined PSG's academy system back in 2018 before making his senior debut in August 2024 at just 16 years old.
Emery's squad overhaul continues this window, with Mbaye the third attacking arrival alongside Alejandro Garnacho and Johan Manzambi. However, Villa have also faced significant departures—Morgan Rogers departed for Chelsea in a £117m deal, Ezri Konsa joined Arsenal for £55m, and striker Ollie Watkins sealed a £51m move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal. That level of turnover creates uncertainty around their form and attacking rhythm heading into the new season, which should factor into how you're evaluating their odds for major competitions and individual match bets.
Related stories
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F08%2Fimago1080281929-1.jpg)
Oddsrama retells the day's football news in our own words, with full credit to the source. 18+. Play responsibly.