The lights came up again for Ibrahim Mbaye in Birmingham on Wednesday, and the former Paris Saint-Germain winger answered with another decisive contribution. Starting on Aston Villa’s left flank in the 3-1 Champions League win over Viking, the Senegal international supplied an assist as his place in Unai Emery’s plans continues to grow.
Mbaye finding his rhythm at Aston Villa
Villa paid €55 million to bring Mbaye to England at the end of the summer transfer window, a fee that placed immediate attention on a player still at the beginning of his senior career. Emery has opted for a measured introduction rather than throwing him straight into regular Premier League starts.
- Mbaye arrived from PSG in the closing stages of the summer market for €55 million.
- His first league appearances largely came from the bench, but those cameos underlined the faith held in him by Emery, the coaching staff and the club.
- European matches have brought a more prominent role, with Mbaye now starting two consecutive Champions League fixtures.
- He has registered an assist in each of those two starts, including Wednesday’s contribution against Viking.
The Senegalese forward also made an impact during the latest international break. He scored the only goal in Ethiopia as Senegal secured victory in qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations.
A patient route after PSG
Mbaye’s talent was well known in Paris, but opportunities were limited under Luis Enrique, who preferred other attacking profiles. The youngster was mostly restricted to substitute appearances despite being viewed as one of the club’s promising wide players.
His departure has taken on extra relevance in light of PSG’s current attacking problems. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee, while Ousmane Dembélé has dealt with muscular issues. Mbaye could have offered depth during that difficult spell, but his next stage is now unfolding in the Premier League.
Emery’s handling of the young attacker reflects a wider trend among major clubs with expensive emerging talents. Real Madrid have begun to establish Ivorian forward Yan Diomandé gradually after his summer move, worth up to €140 million including bonuses, while Ayyoub Bouaddi has been earning increasing minutes at Manchester City following his €100 million transfer from Lille under Enzo Maresca.
Manchester City provides the next examination
Aston Villa’s season has begun to gather momentum after an uneven opening. They sit 12th in the Premier League, but their European form has been far stronger: three wins from three Champions League games have left them second in the table, behind PSG.
The visit of English league leaders Manchester City on Saturday will offer a sharper measure of both Villa’s revival and Mbaye’s progress. After two successive European assists, the young Senegalese winger has begun to turn a costly move into a convincing new opportunity.
