A tricky, exciting, quick and versatile midfielder, Azeez has proven himself in the Championship with Millwall over the past two seasons and now deserves a chance to test himself in the top flight. Brighton had been chasing him for a while and struck a deal on deadline day for a very reasonable reported initial £12.5m, rising to £15m. If he can make the step up and produce anything like his second-tier form, he’ll be a steal.
He is a high-volume producer at the sharp end of the pitch, constantly making things happen that threaten the opposition’s goal, but standing out most for his crossing. He ranked top of the Championship last season for open-play crosses (227) and expected assists from crosses (6.71 xA). He also ranked fourth for dribble attempts (131), ninth for shots (95), sixth for chances created from open play (58).
He created good-quality chances, too; only two players created more big chances than he did (18), and he ranked fourth for expected assists. His 9.12 xA alongside only seven assists suggests he may benefit from playing alongside better finishers. A hugely exciting prospect.
Despite being 18, Mbaye has significant and noteworthy experience under his belt. Last year he made six appearances, including in the final, for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations and this summer he made four appearances at the World Cup. He has also played in two Ligue 1 title-winning campaigns, including 2024-25, when he became the youngest player in PSG’s history to start a game, and won the Champions League in both of those seasons He is a dribbling and ball-carrying menace, who always looks as if he’s about to do something special.
Among players to play at least 900 minutes in Ligue 1 last season, he was 11th for carries (moving at least five metres with the ball) per 90, with 20.0, and 12th for progressive carries (moving at least five metres upfield with the ball) per 90, with 10.3. Most of the players above him in both lists are defenders, who naturally have more space to move into. He was third for take-on-ending carries, or running with the ball for at least five metres before attempting to beat an opponent with a dribble, with 2.9 per 90.
And he also has end product to boot. He scored at Afcon and the World Cup despite limited minutes and his 0.45 goals or assists per 90 for PSG last season is not to be sniffed at. Danso had a pretty impossible task over his two years at Tottenham.
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