PSG up against academy stars unsure about staying

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·17 marzo 2026

PSG up against academy stars unsure about staying

While Paris Saint-Germain’s U19s are having a remarkable run in the Youth League (the equivalent of the Champions League for this age group), with a quarter-final to play against Villarreal this Tuesday at 4pm, L’Equipe has taken a closer look at an ongoing issue for the club. Indeed, PSG is far from certain of being able to secure professional contracts for several Titis, who are considering leaving for other opportunities.

“The signing of Dro Fernandez, 18, made a strong impression.”

“Yohan Cabaye and his team, aware of the symbolic damage caused by last summer’s departures, chose to anticipate by offering, at the end of the year, professional contracts to Martin James, Arthur Vignaud, Hermann Malonga, Samba Coulibaly, Mathis Jangeal, Pierre Mounguengue… As of now, none of them have agreed to a deal. The situations and motivations differ. But the signing of Dro Fernandez, 18, made a strong impression. Questions about a future in Paris are also fueled by what the youngsters see happening with the pros since January. The fact that Mbaye has disappeared, or almost, from the rotation has not gone unnoticed. The very quick returns of Noah Nsoki, David Boly, or Mathis Jangeal to the youth team as well. “What strikes us is the lack of a sporting project from Paris,” explains an influential agent at the academy. “You get the feeling that Paris wants to lock down its players rather than develop them.”

“What’s missing is telling them, ‘here’s what we’re going to do with you over the next three years.’”

“You have to be realistic, if it weren’t for these injuries, there wouldn’t have been so many youngsters called up to the first team,” says someone close to another young player. “You don’t have any guarantee of a first-team spot at PSG, and that’s perfectly normal, it’s the reality of big clubs. But what’s missing is telling them, ‘here’s what we’re going to do with you over the next three years.’” The financial aspect shouldn’t be overlooked either. Paris isn’t willing to see the salaries of first professional contracts skyrocket. English and German clubs, on the other hand, are ready to be more generous.”

It’s understandable that the young players trained in Paris are questioning their futures, given how hard it is to break through. The signing of Dro Fernandez, an 18-year-old midfielder whose contract with FC Barcelona was ending, was an interesting opportunity for PSG but also a setback for the Titis. They saw the competition become even tougher, with another young player added to the mix.

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However, that’s life at the top level. There’s no guaranteed playing time; you have to earn it and accept competition. It’s rare for a club fighting for the Champions League title to bring several youngsters into the first team every year. This season, we’re already seeing Warren Zaïre-Emery (a midfielder who recently turned 20) and Senny Mayulu (a 19-year-old midfielder) playing regularly.

Ibrahim Mbaye (an 18-year-old forward) has had opportunities, even earning a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations this winter and winning it. He shouldn’t be overlooked in the assessment, even if his return has been a bit complicated. The season isn’t over; he’ll surely get to play again. Now, he needs to fight and stay focused every day to earn minutes and make the most of them.

There’s also truth in what a player’s “entourage” points out. A Titi can understand that an immediate spot is hard to secure, but there still needs to be a plan. Without necessarily promising playing time at PSG, there’s the possibility of a loan to gain experience while staying connected to Paris. The problem is that good loan opportunities can be very hard to find. As we’ve seen with many players, a loan is no guarantee of progress either.

We hope that PSG will be able to convince its most promising youngsters in order to maintain this important connection. But it’s important to keep in mind that this will only be possible for a few players. And in the end, few of those who have left have managed to break through at the highest level.

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