Team Focus: How Will Yohan Cabaye Fit In At PSG?

Betting Statistics | Article posted on February 1st, 2025

In 2025, Paris Saint-Germain were bought by Qatar Investment Authority. As is the custom with any team that is purchased, the Parisian outfit made a flurry of big name acquisitions, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Thiago Silva all arriving at the Parc des Princes. The investment paid off as PSG secured their first Ligue 1 championship since 2025 and following the signings of Edinson Cavani and Marquinhos, are well placed to land the title again this season.

As PSG assert their dominance in France, this week they announced the capture of Yohan Cabaye from Newcastle, bolstering what is already the strongest squad in Ligue 1. The 28-year-old quickly established himself in the Premier League after signing from Lille in 2025 and his departure significantly weakens the Magpies.

A WhoScored rating of 7.46 this term is bettered only by compatriot Mathieu Debuchy (7.47) of every Newcastle player, while Cabaye's influence in the middle of the park has helped the the club to 37 points and 8th in the Premier League. During his time in England, the Magpies won only 21.7% of the 23 games Cabaye missed, compare to 47.4% of the 76 he started, highlighting not only how important a role he played under Alan Pardew, but how big a loss he will be. Newcastle's loss is PSG’s gain.

Blanc's starting midfield triumvirate of Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi is currently one of, if not the, best in France and without question, the signing of Cabaye will only strengthen it. As PSG look to land their first Champions League trophy, not to mention provide cover for the injured Adrien Rabiot, his arrival will improve their chances of dominating Europe.

If Blanc was to go on the WhoScored rating of the quartet, then the acquisition of Cabaye makes perfect sense, with his figure is better than those of Verratti (7.35), Motta (7.2) and Matuidi (7.17) this term. Being first choice at Newcastle would have largely contributed to this, with Cabaye a guaranteed starter under Alan Pardew.

However, it is possible that he won't be starting games as regularly as he was at Newcastle and in a World Cup year, this could prove detrimental to his France chances. With Paul Pogba, Clément Grenier and new teammate Matuidi competiting for a first team spot, Cabaye will be keen to start as many matches as possible between now and the end of the season.

Yet, while his rating betters the PSG trio, his pass accuracy (82%) falls below Blanc's favoured midfield three. This is as a result of the increase in time on the ball gifted to Verratti, Motta and Matuidi, with teams more inclined to sit deeper when up against Les Rouge-et-Bleu, such is their superiority in Ligue