PSG's Youthful Squad Shines in Champions League

PSG young guns ready to shine against Bayer Leverkusen

PSG's young talents, including Senny Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye, are set to start against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Can they continue their impressive form?

The new philosophy at Paris Saint-Germain is yielding opportunities for young talents...

Paris Saint-Germain's young talent will be on display when they face Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. After their 2-1 win against Barcelona, PSG aims to make it three wins out of three in the league phase. The likes of Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola are expected to shine.

Youngest Squad in Champions League

PSG boasts the youngest squad in the Champions League, with an average age of 23 years and 247 days. They lead the pack, followed closely by Chelsea (23 years and 274 days), Brugge (24 years and 25 days), Monaco (24 years and 54 days), and Frankfurt (24 years and 188 days). This youthful energy is a key aspect of PSG's current campaign.

Several factors contribute to this trend, one of which sparked controversy during the international break in September. The absence of key players like Ousmane Dembele who recently returned due to injury naturally impacts performance. Additionally, coach Luis Enrique's strategic decisions play a significant role, as seen in his choices to start Senny Mayulu against Atalanta and Ibrahim Mbaye against Barcelona, opting them over Lee Kang-In and Gonçalo Ramos. These decisions reflect the club's overall policy and approach.

The Spanish coach shares responsibility for these decisions, which align with Paris Saint-Germain's strategy of leveraging its academy talents. With his experience in Spanish football, he's well aware of the importance of a coherent youth system. This approach is also emphasized by Luis Campos, who stresses that top clubs must have a robust youth structure to tap into when needed.

The Spanish coach and the club's sporting advisor, Luis Campos, met with the pre-training and training coaches in December to discuss integrating promising young players into the professional team. This meeting aimed to share the coach's experience and expectations, aligning with the academy's work.

The meeting was described as an “enriching” and “sharing” moment, making the project “as ambitious as ever.” The goal is to see “more and more players from the academy join the professional team,” reflecting the club's commitment to nurturing young talent.

Luis Enrique's lineup against Bayer Leverkusen sends a strong message to the academy, showcasing his commitment to youth. The Spanish coach fielded the second-youngest starting XI for a defending champion in the Champions League, with an average age of 23 years and 98 days.

Since the start of the season, Luis Enrique has consistently relied on young players, giving them valuable opportunities. Senny Mayulu's goal against Strasbourg is a testament to this approach. Paris Saint-Germain has the second-lowest average age of its starting XI in Europe, with 1,378 minutes of playing time for players under 20.

Young Guns Shining in Europe

Several young talents have made their mark, including Senny Mayulu, known for his Champions League final goal. Other promising players have also gotten their chance:

• Ibrahim Mbaye: Started against Atalanta at 17 years and 236 days, becoming the third-youngest starter in the Champions League this season.

• Quentin Ndjantou: Made his European debut as a substitute against Barcelona at 18 years and 70 days.

• Mathis Jangeal: Impressed against Auxerre at the Parc des Princes at just 17 years and 95 days.

The new philosophy at Paris Saint-Germain is yielding opportunities for young talents, particularly those from the club's academy, known as Titis. The arrival of Qatar Sports Investments has opened doors for these players, but the challenge lies in securing long-term spots on the first team.

Good evening guys! 👋#B04PSG I @ChampionsLeague

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— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) October 21, 2025

Several promising players have left PSG due to limited playing time, including notable names like Mike Maignan, Kingsley Coman, and Christopher Nkunku. Can young players like Senny Mayulu follow in the footsteps of successful academy graduates like Warren Zaire-Emery and cement their positions in Luis Enrique's team? Only time will tell.

Luis Enrique is likely to stick with a similar lineup against Bayer Leverkusen, with Senny Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye starting. This could be their chance to shine again, following their impressive performances against Atalanta and Barcelona. The young duo has been making waves, and another strong showing could solidify their positions in the team. Let's see how they'll fare against Leverkusen.

Ready for a new @ChampionsLeague matchday? ❤️‍🔥#B04PSG | #UCL

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— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) October 21, 2025

Top 10 youngest players in Champions League 2025/26

1. Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool - Atletico de Madrid / 17 years, 19 days)

2. Dastan Satpaev (Sporting CP - Kairat / 17 years, 37 days)

3. Geovany Quenda is the youngest Portuguese player ever to start a Champions League match (17 years, 140 days against Lille in September 2024)

4. Honest Ahanor (Paris Saint-Germain - Atalanta / 17 years, 206 days)

5. Jorthy Mokio (Marseille - Ajax / 17 years, 214 days)

6. Lennart Karl (Pafos - Bayern Munich / 17 years, 220 days)

7. Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG - Atalanta / 17 years, 236 days)

8. Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid - Marseille / 18 years, 33 days)

9. Axel Tape (Bayer Leverkusen - PSV / 18 years, 52 days)

10. Quentin Ndjantou (Barcelona - PSG / 18 years, 70 days)

11. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona - PSG / 18 years, 80 days

12. Willian Estevao (Chelsea - Bayern) / 18 years and 146 days, Estevao is the fourth youngest player to make his debut in the Champions League.