Paris Saint-Germain will not pursue a winter transfer for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza during the January window, despite widespread media speculation and public lobbying from club supporters, Foot Mercato reported.
DJ Snake Reveals Year-Long Pressing Campaign on Nasser Al-Khelaïfi
Social media discussions surrounding a potential move for the 20-year-old Algeria international intensified after comedian Malik Bentalha publicly called for the player’s arrival in the French capital. That public appeal drew a lighthearted response from French music producer and prominent club affiliate DJ Snake, who wrote on X that “ça fait un an que je fais le pressing à Nasser,” according to Les Titis du PSG.
« ça fait un an que je fais le pressing à Nasser. »
The exchange highlighted mounting enthusiasm among high-profile followers for the young playmaker. However, RMC Sport reported that internal club planning does not include an immediate bid for Maza when the transfer window opens, with Algerian journalist Brahim Hanifi noting that the French club would desire to recruit the Berlin native at all costs.
Luis Enrique and the January Transfer Strategy at Parc des Princes
Talk of a potential winter pursuit gained traction following a severe knee ligament injury to forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. When asked if the absence would force winter reinforcements, head coach Luis Enrique dismissed the necessity, stating that no injury automatically justifies new signings and noting that the squad was built to handle multiple key absences, as reported by RMC Sport. He added that the player would return stronger without a doubt, and described losing three players in a single match as strange while calling it a motivation for the team.
Stp @PSG_inside ➡️ Ibrahim MAZA 💎🇩🇿
Luis Enrique acknowledged that the club remains attentive to market opportunities if a genuine need arises. Yet, RMC Sport confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain will not target Maza in January, choosing instead to rely on internal options such as Mika Godts, Quentin Ndjantou, and Senny Mayulu. Sky Germany reported that the French club’s interest went beyond speculation by showing concrete interest that the player’s entourage was aware of, while RMC Sport specified that any winter move would require a young, high-potential player not valued at an extremely high price. Should a transfer happen in January, Maza would join Moroccan teammate Achraf Hakimi as the second Arab player in the Paris Saint-Germain squad.
Bayer Leverkusen Stance and Valuation of the Algerian Playmaker
Maza arrived at Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 from Hertha BSC for a reported fee of twelve million euros, following prior interest from VfB Stuttgart, according to Goal.com. VfB Stuttgart executive Fabian Wohlgemuth explained to Bild that the historic move did not materialize at the time because it never went beyond a phase of mutual interest due to various reasons clubs and players fail to reach agreements.
.jpg "Photo: Goal.com")
Transfermarkt currently estimates the player’s market value at approximately 50 million euros. Yahoo Actualités also reported that Leverkusen views the 20-year-old as a central figure in their long-term sporting project and holds no intention of selling the midfielder during the winter window.
Player Performance and Recent Recognition on the European Stage
On the pitch, Maza has drawn praise from opponents, including an exchange with Deniz Undav following a 4-2 Bundesliga defeat against VfB Stuttgart, where Undav told the Leverkusen player to go to Paris because he did not want to play against him anymore, as detailed by Goal.com. Undav later added to Sky that Leverkusen possesses an exceptional talent who excels at creating space and winning duels. Maza had also previously shone for Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Maza recorded four goals and three passes decisive in twelve official matches for Leverkusen this season, alongside prior contributions including three goals and three assists in ten appearances noted across regional reports, and 8 goals and 10 assists across 54 total matches since joining the club. Regarding his tactical positioning, Maza stated in a previous interview with the official German championship website that he feels most comfortable playing as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though he is ready to play anywhere required across central midfield, defensive midfield, and both the right and left wings. During the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony, the Algerian international finished ninth in the Kopa Trophy voting for the world’s best young player, receiving a personal vote from Lionel Messi.
