Full story
Villa sign deadline double
Aston Villa completed a deadline-day double move by signing Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris St-Germain and Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis, with Villa confirming both arrivals on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
“Aston Villa have signed PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye; the 18-year-old right-sided forward has moved to Villa Park in a deal worth £47m”
Mbaye, 18, joined Villa Park in a deal worth £47m, while Harwood-Bellis moved for a fee of £25m plus £5m in add-ons after Villa saw two previous bids rejected by Southampton.
Harwood-Bellis arrived as Ezri Konsa’s replacement after Konsa completed his £55m switch to Premier League champions Arsenal earlier in the transfer window, and Villa’s signings also included Mbaye following his World Cup scoring run.
The BBC said Mbaye scored three goals and provided two assists in 31 games in all competitions last season as PSG defended their Ligue 1 and Champions League titles, and it added that Harwood-Bellis replaces Konsa in Villa’s defence after the England centre-back’s move to Arsenal.
Fees, contracts, and context
Multiple outlets framed the Harwood-Bellis deal as a £25m guaranteed fee with add-ons, with Sky Sports stating Villa will pay a guaranteed fee of £25m plus £5m in add-ons and the BBC adding that Villa paid an initial fee of £25m with £4m in potential add-ons.
FotMob reported Harwood-Bellis joined Unai Emery’s side in a deal reportedly worth £30m, with Villa paying a guaranteed £25m transfer fee plus £5m in add-ons, and it said the 24-year-old comes in to fill the gap left by Ezri Konsa.
Football365 said Harwood-Bellis has penned a five-year contract at Villa Park, while ESPN described the window as a busy one for Villa that included signings such as Alejandro Garnacho, João Gomes, Johan Manzambi, Modou Keba Cisse, Matteo Ruggeri, Zion Suzuki, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Nicolas Jackson and Leon Goretzka.
The New York Times said Harwood-Bellis joins on a five-year deal in a deal worth an initial £25m, with a further £5m in add-ons, and it reported that Ibrahim Mbaye’s move from Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed earlier on Tuesday.
Deadline-day ripple effects
The transfer activity around Villa’s deadline-day business came with wider Premier League deadline pressure, with Leadership describing the transfer window set to close at 23:00 BST on Tuesday and clubs racing to complete their final deals before the deadline.
“With the Premier League and English Football League transfer window set to close at 23:00 BST on Tuesday”
Leadership said Aston Villa spent a combined £76m on Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ibrahim Mbaye, while it also noted Hull City signed Ilyas Ansah from Union Berlin for an undisclosed fee and that Wrexham completed the signing of Joe Worrall from Burnley for an undisclosed fee.
Sky Sports added that Mbaye’s arrival follows the sale of England forward Ollie Watkins to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in a £51m transfer, and it reported that Harwood-Bellis’ move came after the deal for the 24-year-old was agreed between the two clubs.
BBC coverage also tied the moves to Villa’s broader summer rebuild, saying Villa have paid an initial £25m for Harwood-Bellis after seeing two previous bids rejected and that Mbaye is the latest attacker to join Unai Emery’s side following Alejandro Garnacho, Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson.