PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye, whom Liverpool had considered signing, now appears increasingly likely to join Aston Villa. Sky Sports reported that Aston Villa and PSG had reached a verbal agreement for Mbaye, with the fee understood to be around £47 million.
However, the current situation must be distinguished from a completed transfer. L’Équipe reported that Mbaye is expected to travel to England for a medical before signing with Aston Villa. In other words, the next steps reported by the media are expected to take place, but the club’s official announcement has not yet been confirmed.
The key point is that negotiations over Mbaye’s move to Aston Villa have become concrete—not that the transfer has already been completed.
How did Liverpool consider Mbaye?
According to Sky Sports, Liverpool explored the possibility of signing Mbaye in the summer of 2026. Liverpool were subsequently reported to be pursuing his PSG teammate Bradley Barcola.
Liverpool.com also reported that Mbaye had been a long-term target for Liverpool, but that negotiations over his move to Aston Villa had taken him off Liverpool’s list of alternative options. The situation currently appears to be that Liverpool had shown interest, while Aston Villa moved further ahead in negotiations.
Why do the reported transfer fees differ?
The value of Mbaye’s deal has been reported differently by different outlets.
| Outlet | Reported details |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports | Verbal agreement worth around £47 million |
| L’Équipe | Deal worth €55 million |
Because it has not been confirmed whether the figures include add-ons or bonuses, neither amount can be treated as the official transfer fee. Sensational figures circulating online, as well as the phrase “HERE WE GO,” should not be regarded as officially confirmed facts.
What kind of player is Mbaye?
According to PSG’s official profile, Ibrahim Mbaye is a forward born on January 24, 2008. He joined PSG at the age of 10 and made his professional debut for the club against Le Havre in August 2024.
Based on the information confirmed so far, Mbaye is a promising player developed by PSG. Liverpool had shown interest, but discussions with Aston Villa have become more concrete. The final outcome of the transfer can only be confirmed once the medical, contract signing, and official club announcement have taken place.
There is also no confirmed direct transfer connection between Lee Kang-in and Mbaye. The fact that both players are associated with PSG is not sufficient evidence to conclude that one player’s transfer caused the other’s.
Sources and verification time
- [PSG official profile: Ibrahim Mbaye](https://www.psg.fr/joueurs/ibrahim-mbaye) — checked August 29, 2026
- [Sky Sports: Ibrahim Mbaye transfer news](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13578178/ibrahim-mbaye-transfer-news-aston-villa-reach-verbal-agreement-to-sign-psg-and-senegal-forward) — checked August 29, 2026
- [L’Équipe: Report on Mbaye’s trip to England and expected Aston Villa contract](https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Mercato-l-attaquant-du-PSG-ibrahim-mbaye-se-rend-en-angleterre-ce-samedi-pour-s-engager-avec-aston-villa/1714391) — checked August 29, 2026
- [Liverpool.com: Report on Liverpool’s previous interest in Mbaye](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/transfer-news/mbaye-transfer-villa-liverpool-barcola-34535898.amp) — checked August 29, 2026