Rayan Abo El Nay, a 19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder currently on a trainee contract running until June 2027, is among the players who have demonstrated promising qualities this season with the U19 squad, particularly in the Youth League. This form has earned him occasional training sessions with the professional squad and attracted outside interest; according to L’Équipe, clubs in Portugal and Germany are tracking the situation.
“Rayan Abo El Nay could leave the capital club this summer. Still on a trainee contract (valid until 2027), the young midfielder is attracting interest from the Portuguese club Rio Ave. A German club has also expressed interest.”
Nothing is finalized yet, but the sports newspaper is generally reliable regarding PSG’s academy graduates (Titis), so a departure would come as no surprise. It would continue the exodus seen since the start of the summer. This is hardly illogical, given how difficult it is to secure a spot in a team that has just won the Champions League twice in a row in impressive fashion.
High standards and fierce competition mean opportunities go only to the best—those ready to be patient and fight for their place. They must also handle the pressure of the professional squad and the intensity of higher-level matches. Consequently, PSG cannot keep all its young players. The academy also serves to boost the club’s finances, notably through clauses guaranteeing a percentage of any future resale.
However, one would like to see a few more Titis stay in Paris to develop and gradually establish themselves. Perhaps a better pathway could be offered—possibly involving a loan spell—even though history shows that neither that option nor an early departure guarantees a successful career. No such guarantee exists. Let us hope the Parisian coaching staff can keep the most promising talents motivated. Like Senny Mayulu and Warren Zaïre-Emery (a 20-year-old midfielder), who managed to earn their spots.
