In a gesture blending football prestige with star power, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is set to roll out the red carpet for two of Aston Villa’s most famous supporters, Prince William and Tom Hanks, at the upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie. The highly anticipated first leg between PSG and Aston Villa will take place at the iconic Parc des Princes on April 9, and Al-Khelaifi is sparing no effort to make it a memorable occasion.
The invitation comes as PSG prepares to face off against a resurgent Aston Villa side, managed by Unai Emery, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Aston Villa, marking their first Champions League campaign in decades, secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a commanding 6-1 aggregate victory over Club Brugge earlier this month. Meanwhile, PSG advanced by overcoming Liverpool in a dramatic penalty shootout at Anfield, showcasing their growing prowess in Europe’s elite competition.
Al-Khelaifi’s decision to invite Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Hollywood icon Tom Hanks underscores the global appeal of the fixture. Both are well-known Aston Villa fans, with the prince frequently spotted cheering from the stands at Villa Park and Hanks often vocal about his affection for the Birmingham club. The PSG president’s gesture also coincides with a personal milestone—on the eve of the match, Al-Khelaifi will officially become the longest-serving president in the club’s history, surpassing the tenure of his predecessors since taking the helm in 2011 following Qatar Sports Investments’ takeover.
According to reports from French media outlet Get French Football News, Al-Khelaifi has extended invitations not only to the celebrity duo but also to all former PSG presidents, aiming to celebrate the club’s rich legacy and its current ambitions. “It’s a classy move by Nasser,” said football commentator Bruno Salomon on Ici Paris IDF. “Bringing together royalty, Hollywood, and football history for this tie shows PSG’s intent to make a statement both on and off the pitch.”
Prince William, who watched Villa’s recent triumph over Club Brugge from Villa Park, expressed his excitement after the match, telling journalists, “See you in Paris.” His presence at the Parc des Princes would mark a continuation of his vocal support for the club, which is targeting its first top-flight European trophy since the 1982 European Cup triumph—the year of William’s birth. Tom Hanks, meanwhile, has yet to comment publicly on the invitation, but his attendance would add a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Parisian night.
The matchup itself carries extra intrigue due to Emery’s history with PSG. The Spanish manager, who led PSG from 2016 to 2018, will return to the Parc des Princes aiming to upset his former employers. Emery’s European pedigree, combined with Villa’s dynamic attacking options like Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, has pundits cautiously optimistic about the underdog’s chances against a PSG side boasting talents like Ousmane Dembélé.