According to Loïc Tanzi in L’Équipe, Paris Saint-Germain is seeing several more young players leave: 18-year-old forward Pierre Mounguengue has officially confirmed his departure for Dynamo Kyiv, while 18-year-old defender Samba Coulibaly and 18-year-old winger Elijah Ly—both PSG players—are heading to Club Brugge.
Tanzi: “And in the end, how many will be left?”
“And in the end, how many will be left? PSG is gradually losing almost all the players to whom it offered a professional contract. While Pierre Mounguengue—who made a Ligue 1 appearance this season—officially signed with the Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv this Wednesday, two other prospects from the capital club are on their way out.
A key figure in 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 was highly rated by Yohan Cabaye. The destination is the same for dynamic winger Elijah Ly (18), to whom PSG had not offered a professional contract.”
This wave of departures raises a real question regarding the Parisian youth generation. Pierre Mounguengue had made a Ligue 1 appearance, Samba Coulibaly seemed to be valued internally, and Elijah Ly was among the standout attacking talents in the youth ranks. However, these departures do not all necessarily signify the same thing. A nuanced view is required when distinguishing between players Paris offered professional contracts and those the club made no attempt to secure.
PSG may be intentionally thinning the ranks
Paris Saint-Germain cannot offer a credible pathway to all its young players, especially given the massive gap that remains between the youth setup and the professional squad. Some departures may signal a loss of appeal, but they also reflect a clear choice by the club: avoiding the accumulation of professional contracts without a genuine pathway to the first team. It is harsh, but logical; a professional contract only makes sense if there is a clear route forward.
A bridge that remains difficult to build
This remains a sensitive issue for Paris; while the club excels at youth development and winning at the academy level, it still struggles to establish multiple homegrown talents—or “Titis”—in the professional squad on a long-term basis. The recent success of Warren Zaïre-Emery and the gradual integration of select prospects cannot mask the reality: for many, the future lies elsewhere. Above all, PSG must avoid creating the impression that, despite having a high-performing academy, there is no real path to the top.
