Axel Tape, a 17-year-old defensive midfielder with a promising future, has decided against signing his first professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and is set to leave the French giants.
Despite rising through PSG’s prestigious youth academy, Tape’s path to the first team has been hindered by intense competition and the club’s challenges in integrating homegrown talent.
Tape made his public debut earlier this year during PSG’s Coupe de France victory over Espanyol, where his performances immediately caught the attention of manager Luis Enrique.
Known for his versatility, Tape has demonstrated the ability to play both as a defensive midfielder and as a centre-back, which earned him significant praise.
However, his breakthrough moments were not enough to secure a permanent place in the senior squad, which is brimming with talent from across Europe.
At PSG, a club with a strong tradition of developing young players, Tape’s chances of regularly featuring for the first team have been limited by the influx of new recruits and fierce competition for spots.
The highly competitive environment at the club has made it difficult for homegrown players like Tape to establish themselves in the starting lineup, despite their potential.
According to reports from RMC Sport, Tape is unlikely to stay at PSG and will not be signing a professional contract with the club.
As a free agent this summer, the French-born player, who is also eligible to represent the Ivory Coast, is already attracting significant interest from several European clubs.
Bayer Leverkusen has emerged as the frontrunner for Tape’s signature. The German Bundesliga club, impressed by his skillset, has already opened discussions with Tape and his representatives.
Key figures from the club’s recruitment team, Simon Rolfes and Kim Falkenberg, have held several video calls with the player’s camp to outline the club’s vision and potential role for him. Sources suggest that the project at Leverkusen has made a strong impression on Tape, who is now leaning towards a move to Germany.
While English Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, have also shown interest in the young midfielder, Leverkusen currently holds the edge in the race for his services.
The appeal of playing in the Bundesliga, where young talents often find opportunities to develop and gain significant first-team experience, seems to be a major factor in Tape’s decision.
This situation highlights a growing concern for PSG, as the club continues to face difficulties in retaining its emerging talent.
Despite the club’s considerable financial resources and its focus on nurturing young players, PSG has struggled to integrate several of its academy graduates into the senior team in recent years.
Tape’s departure would mark another missed opportunity for the club to capitalize on the potential within its own ranks.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Axel Tape’s next steps are closely being watched by clubs across Europe.
His decision to leave PSG, combined with the strong interest from Bayer Leverkusen, marks an important crossroads in his young career.
For PSG, it underscores the challenge of balancing the promotion of youth talent with the demands of competing at the highest level of European football.
