At 18, Aston Villa’s Senegalese forward Ibrahim Mbaye is among the contenders for the 2026 African Young Player of the Year award, his club announced on 4 November. The winner will be revealed on 7 December in Lagos.
The news came through official channels: Aston Villa confirmed on 4 November 2026 that their Senegalese international forward is among the nominees for the 2026 African Young Player of the Year. At 18, he is in the running for the distinction after a year marked by records with his national team.
Because the player’s trajectory is hardly that of a newcomer. Arriving last summer from PSG, he has made the left wing his own in Unai Emery’s system at Aston Villa. The shortlist published by his club places him among several young talents from the continent.
Records with the Lions
His international CV speaks for itself. On 3 January 2026, against Sudan in the round of 16 at the AFCON, Mbaye scored at 17 years and 344 days, becoming the youngest scorer in Senegal’s history in the competition, according to wiwsport. Five months later, on 16 June 2026, he did it again against France at the World Cup, at 18 years and 143 days, this time as the youngest African scorer in World Cup history.
Since his debut in November 2025, the forward has won 18 caps for the Lions, according to the same source.
A €55m transfer and a place on the left wing
Last summer, Mbaye left PSG for Aston Villa, according to RMC Sport, for €55m (£45.8m).
The youngster has carved out a place on the left wing in Unai Emery’s system. In October, he provided assists against Fenerbahçe, Viking and Manchester City, according to Apex Football. “He is settling into Unai Emery’s system and becoming increasingly influential,” RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins told the outlet.
His Parisian past is not insignificant either: he was part of the squad that won Ligue 1, the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2026, according to the club’s official website.
Liverpool pulled back, the shortlist gets tougher
According to Fabrice Hawkins, Liverpool had reached a personal agreement with the player before pulling out of the move. The journalist’s report illustrates the interest the Senegalese has generated on the market, though the exact reasons for the withdrawal remain unknown.
For the 2026 African Young Player of the Year award, Mbaye is shortlisted alongside Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), Yan Diomande (Real Madrid) and Ayoub Bouaddi (Manchester City), among others, according to Aston Villa. The winner will be announced at the CAF Awards on Monday 7 December 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria.