How Dembele Thrived After Mbappé’s Exit

 When Paris Saint-Germain triggered Ousmane Dembélé’s £43.5m release clause in August 2023, few imagined the winger would soon become the face of a new era in Paris. In his first season, he played a supporting role — six goals, 14 assists — while Kylian Mbappé produced a staggering 44 goals in what turned out to be his final campaign before joining Real Madrid.

PSG suddenly needed a new leader. Dembélé stepped into the void. Last season, the Frenchman delivered 51 goal involvements, more than double his previous career-best tally. His 35 goals were 21 more than he had ever managed in a single year. It was not just improvement; it was reinvention.

Ousmane Dembélé

Luis Enrique made the shift possible. With Mbappé gone, he challenged Dembélé to add a ruthless edge to his creativity — to stop being just a provider and start finishing his own chances. The coaching staff drove the message home: if he converted even a fraction of the opportunities he created, PSG would reap collective success, and Dembélé would earn individual recognition.

The change was tactical as much as mental. While he had largely been locked to the right flank during Mbappé’s reign, Dembélé now operates as a false nine. He drifts inside, receives the ball more frequently, links play, and  crucially sees himself in scoring positions far more often. The freedom suits him.

From a winger in Mbappé’s shadow to PSG’s new talisman, Dembélé has embraced his transformation. A new role has made him a new man.