Transfer window – exodus continues among PSG academy graduates

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·24 Juni 2026

Transfer window – exodus continues among PSG academy graduates

According to Loïc Tanzi in L’Équipe, Paris Saint-Germain are still seeing several young players leave: Pierre Mounguengue, 18, a forward for Dynamo Kyiv, has officially confirmed his departure, while Samba Coulibaly, 18, a PSG defender, and Elijah Ly, 18, a PSG winger, are both heading toward Club Brugge.

Tanzi: “And in the end, how many will be left?”

“And in the end, how many will be left? PSG are gradually losing almost all of the players they offered professional contracts to. While Pierre Mounguengue, who appeared in Ligue 1 this season, officially signed with Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv this Wednesday, two other prospects from the capital club are also on their way out. An important part of the Youth League campaign, defender Samba Coulibaly (18), who trained with the first team at the end of the season, is expected to sign with Club Brugge soon. Paris had submitted a professional contract offer to the young Parisian, who is highly rated by Yohan Cabaye. The same destination awaits dynamic winger Elijah Ly (18), to whom PSG had not offered a professional contract.”

This group departure raises a real question about this Parisian generation. Pierre Mounguengue made a Ligue 1 appearance, Samba Coulibaly seemed to be well regarded internally, and Elijah Ly was one of the standout attacking players among the youth ranks. Even so, not every departure necessarily says the same thing. Between the players Paris offered a professional contract to and those the club did not try to tie down, the situation needs to be viewed with nuance.

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PSG may be deliberately making a sporting selection

Paris Saint-Germain cannot offer a credible pathway to all of its young players, especially in a professional squad where the step up remains huge. Some departures may reflect a loss of appeal, but also a clear club choice: not to pile up professional contracts without any real outlook toward the first team. It is harsh, but logical. A professional contract only makes sense if there is a pathway behind it.

A bridge that is still difficult to build

The issue remains sensitive for Paris, because the club develops many players, wins at youth level, but still struggles to establish several Titis in the senior squad over the long term. The recent success of Warren Zaïre-Emery or the gradual integration of certain profiles is not enough to hide the reality: for many, the future is built elsewhere. Above all, PSG will have to avoid these departures creating the impression of an academy that performs well, but offers no real route to the top.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.