Top News

Paris Saint-Germain youth product Axel Tape has made the switch to Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the 2025/26 season. bundesliga.com profiles the French teenager…

Stats correct as of 11 June 2025

Axel Tape
Age: 17 (born 10 August 2007)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Defender
Country: France (2 U18 caps)

Tape became an exciting component to Leverkusen’s plans under new coach Erik Ten Hag when joining on a free transfer in June 2025 and boasts a very promising background in youth football.

The boy from the Paris suburbs became a key player for the PSG youths, appearing in all six matches of their 2024/25 UEFA Youth League campaign, including a 5-2 win at Bayern Munich in November 2024.

Tape’s composed play and defensive steeliness soon caught the eye of first-team coach Luis Enrique, who promoted him to the senior side for the first time for a game against Toulouse later that month. His PSG debut followed in a January 2025 French Cup tie with Espalyand he went on to play the full 90 minutes of two Ligue 1 matches in May shortly before making the switch to Leverkusen.

Tape’s emergence at club level has translated into youth caps with France in the form of two appearances for the U18s.

Tape (l.) has already shown his defensive prowess in PSG colours. – IMAGO/FEP

Plays a bit like: Dayot Upamecano

At 5’10”, Tape doesn’t quite fit the giant centre-back mold of countryman Dayot Upamecano, but he does share the Bayern man’s speed and positional awareness. He’s also extremely composed in possession, having operated in midfield at youth level.

Did you know?

Paris suburbs like Bondy are known as a goldmine of top-level football talent and for very good reason. Tape hails from the same district Kylian Mbappé was raised in, while former Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani and Arsenal’s William Saliba are also from the area.

Tape (c.) is a fit and athletic central defender. – IMAGO/FEP

What they’re saying

“He is a versatile defensive player, a good footballer with pace, athleticism and a sharp reading of the game. We see great potential in Axel.” – Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes